Professional Musical Instrument Makers in 18th Century Russia

Abstract

The scarcity of historical materials used by the 20th century Russian musicologists led them to challenge the qualifications of Russia’s first musical instrument makers. Additional sources ascertain that the creation of a legislative framework and concessions introduced by the Russian government attracted dozens of Europe’s instrument builders to Russia. Thanks to their activity, Russia saw the start of the skilled craft production of musical instruments in the early 18th century and the manufacturing of the piano in the 1740s. In the period from 1710 to 1780, many of the instument makers were professionally versatile and capable of making virtually all types of instruments. In spite of this, European instruments were in small demand and a portion of the builders had to secure a second job as either a civil servant or a musician. Earlier researchers were deluded by such dual roles and regarded these individuals as musicians who learnt to become an instrument maker. The 1770s saw piano builders becoming involved in a more specialized production of either pianofortes and harpsichords or pianofortes and organs. Combination pianos (Piano-Organs, Piano organisé) became particularly common in Russia, their craftsmen’s skill being well known of in Europe. Early documents and surviving instruments of the period suggest the musical instrument makers cannot be regarded as “short-lived” or “artisanal.” The majority of the foreign instrument makers settled in Russia for decades, opened up workshops, worked for the Court theatre, had students, and created Russia’s school of professional musical instrument building.