Claude Mercier-Ythier (1931 – 3 July 2020) was a French harpsichord maker who ran a shop and workshop in Paris dedicated exclusively to harpsichords. Instruments that he built and restored have been played in many concerts and recordings, including a recording of Bach's complete keyboard works by Zuzana Růžičková. He wrote a standard book on the topic, Les clavecins, published in 1990.
Claude Mercier-Ythier
Claude Mercier-Ythier (left) with Francesco Mazzoli in Paris in 2013
Mercier-Ythier was born into a family of cabinetmakers and engineers. He was passionate about music from a young age and at the age of 18 built his first harpsichord in his garage alongside his friends. After studies at the Conservatoire de Toulon, he went to Bavaria to work with Kurt Wittmayer,[1][2] where he perfected his skills. He also worked for Neupert and Pleyel et Cie.[1]
Rose on a harpsichord by Claude Mercier Ythier
In 1962, Mercier-Ythier opened his first workshop in Paris, specializing in the production of harpsichords.[1] He was the first Frenchman since the reign of Louis XVI to specialize solely in harpsichord production. Mercier-Ythier diversified his business, catering his harpsichords to businesses, theatres, and concert halls.[1] The instruments have also appeared in over 50 films, including L'Allée du Roi and Brotherhood of the Wolf. After a 45-year career, Mercier-Ythier's harpsichords had appeared in over 9000 concerts and 700 recordings.[1]
In 1990, he published a book about harpsichord making history and technique, Les Clavecins,[1] which is cited in other books about the topic such as The Historical Harpsichord[5] and The Harpsichord and Clavichord: An Encyclopedia edited by Igor Kipnis.[6] The book is also referenced in Howard Schott's overview "Early Keyboard Instruments" published in Revue de Musicologie in 1993.[7]
claude, mercier, ythier, 1931, july, 2020, french, harpsichord, maker, shop, workshop, paris, dedicated, exclusively, harpsichords, instruments, that, built, restored, have, been, played, many, concerts, recordings, including, recording, bach, complete, keyboa. Claude Mercier Ythier 1931 3 July 2020 was a French harpsichord maker who ran a shop and workshop in Paris dedicated exclusively to harpsichords Instruments that he built and restored have been played in many concerts and recordings including a recording of Bach s complete keyboard works by Zuzana Ruzickova He wrote a standard book on the topic Les clavecins published in 1990 Claude Mercier YthierClaude Mercier Ythier left with Francesco Mazzoli in Paris in 2013Born1931Cannes FranceDied3 July 2020 2020 07 03 aged 88 89 OccupationHarpsichord maker Contents 1 Life 2 Publication 3 References 4 External linksLife editMercier Ythier was born into a family of cabinetmakers and engineers He was passionate about music from a young age and at the age of 18 built his first harpsichord in his garage alongside his friends After studies at the Conservatoire de Toulon he went to Bavaria to work with Kurt Wittmayer 1 2 where he perfected his skills He also worked for Neupert and Pleyel et Cie 1 nbsp Rose on a harpsichord by Claude Mercier Ythier In 1962 Mercier Ythier opened his first workshop in Paris specializing in the production of harpsichords 1 He was the first Frenchman since the reign of Louis XVI to specialize solely in harpsichord production Mercier Ythier diversified his business catering his harpsichords to businesses theatres and concert halls 1 The instruments have also appeared in over 50 films including L Allee du Roi and Brotherhood of the Wolf After a 45 year career Mercier Ythier s harpsichords had appeared in over 9000 concerts and 700 recordings 1 The historic instruments that he had restored were used in concert and for recordings such as a 2 manual harpsichord by Jean Henri Hemsch built in Paris in 1755 56 played for Bach s The Well Tempered Clavier Book II by Helmut Walcha in 1974 3 He prepared the instrument for Bach s complete keyboard works played by Zuzana Ruzickova 4 In 1990 he published a book about harpsichord making history and technique Les Clavecins 1 which is cited in other books about the topic such as The Historical Harpsichord 5 and The Harpsichord and Clavichord An Encyclopedia edited by Igor Kipnis 6 The book is also referenced in Howard Schott s overview Early Keyboard Instruments published in Revue de Musicologie in 1993 7 Mercier Ythier died on 3 July 2020 1 Publication editLes clavecins Editions Vecteurs 1990 978 0 94 519375 3 8 References edit a b c d e f g Deces du facteur de clavecins Claude Mercier Ythier ResMusica in French 3 July 2020 Retrieved 5 July 2020 Wittmayer Susanne Wittmayer Kurt MGG in German Retrieved 6 July 2020 Well Tempered Clavier Book II BWV 870 893 Discography Part 4 Bach Cantatas Website Retrieved 8 July 2020 Esfahani Mahan August 2016 Liner notes for the complete keyboard works by Bach PDF static1 squarespace com p 3 Germann Sheridan 2002 The Historical Harpsichord Pendragon Press p 162 ISBN 978 0 94 519375 3 Kipnis Igor ed 2013 The Harpsichord and Clavichord An Encyclopedia Routledge p VIII ISBN 978 1 13 594978 5 Schott Howard 1993 Early Keyboard Instruments Revue de Musicologie 79 2 368 375 doi 10 2307 946899 JSTOR 946899 Mercier Ythier Claude 1990 Les clavecins in French Editions Vecteurs ISBN 978 2 87 788006 0 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Claude Mercier Ythier MERCIER YTHIER CLAUDE company profile dnb com Cast of the Mere Folle shoot in France crazymothermovie com Claude Mercier Ythier discography at Discogs Claude Mercier Ythier at IMDb Death of Claude Mercier Ythier https wildkatpr com 3 July 2020 Entretien avec Claude Mercier Ythier 2016 on YouTube Portals nbsp Classical music nbsp France Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Claude Mercier Ythier amp oldid 1144672814, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
