Gottfried Silbermann

Gottfried worked in Strasbourg in the shop of his brother Andreas, also a noted builder, before moving to Freiberg in 1710. There he made spinets, clavichords, and harpsichords and experimented in pianoforte construction. Two of his pianos were played by J.S. BachJ.S. Bach, who criticized their construction; Silbermann thereafter improved the instruments, and eventually Bach even acted as Silbermann’s agent in selling a piano. Gottfried died unmarried in 1753, leaving his business in the hands of a nephew, Johann Daniel Silbermann. Another nephew, Johann Heinrich, likewise built and played keyboard instruments, gaining independently a wide reputation and orders from as far away as India.

Gottfried worked in Strasbourg in the shop of his brother Andreas, also a noted builder, before moving to Freiberg in 1710. There he made spinets, clavichords, and harpsichords and experimented in pianoforte construction. Two of his pianos were played by J.S. Bach, who criticized their construction; Silbermann thereafter improved the instruments, and eventually Bach even acted as Silbermann’s agent in selling a piano. Silbermann became court organ builder in 1736. Gottfried died unmarried in 1753, leaving his business in the hands of a nephew, Johann Daniel Silbermann. Another nephew, Johann Heinrich, likewise built and played keyboard instruments, gaining independently a wide reputation and orders from as far away as India.

Gottfried Silbermann, (born Jan. 14, 1683, Kleinbobritzsch, Saxony [now in Germany]—died Aug. 4, 1753, Dresden), outstanding German builder of keyboard instruments and member of an important family of musical-instrument makers.

Gottfried worked in Strasbourg in the shop of his brother Andreas, also a noted builder, before moving to Freiberg in 1710. There he made spinets, clavichords, and harpsichords and experimented in pianoforte construction. Two of his pianos were played by J.S. Bach, who criticized their construction; Silbermann thereafter improved the instruments, and eventually Bach even acted as Silbermann’s agent in selling a piano. Silbermann became court organ builder in 1736. Gottfried died unmarried in 1753, leaving his business in the hands of a nephew, Johann Daniel Silbermann. Another nephew, Johann Heinrich, likewise built and played keyboard instruments, gaining independently a wide reputation and orders from as far away as India.

Gottfried Silbermann (January 14, 1683 – August 4, 1753) was a German builder of keyboard instruments He built harpsichords, clavichords, organs, and fortepianos; his modern reputation rests mainly on the latter two.

Gottfried Silbermann (January 14, 1683 – August 4, 1753) was a German builder of keyboard instruments He built harpsichords, clavichords, organs, and fortepianos; his modern reputation rests mainly on the latter two.