A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Welcker von Gontershausen, Heinrich

by Alfred James Hipkins

WELCKER VON GONTERSHAUSEN, Heinrich, Court pianoforte maker to the Grand Duke of Hesse, and a writer on the construction and history of musical instruments, particularly the pianoforte, was born at Gontershausen, a village in the Grand Duchy of Hesse Darmstadt, in the year 1811. He died at Darmstadt, June 15, 1873. His published works include:—

1. Die musikalischen Tonwerkzeuge in technischen Zeichnungen aller Saiten-, Blas-, Schlag-, und Frictions-Instrumente, mit spezieller Beschreibung ihres Baues, Tonumfangs, und fasslicher Angabe ihrer Behandlung und Erhaltung. Mit 160 Abbildungen. Frankfurt am Main.
2. Der Flügel oder die Beschaffenheit des Pianos in allen Formen. Eine umfassende Darstellung der Forte-Piano-Baukunst vom Entstehen bis zu den neuesten Verbesserungen mit specieller Hinweisung auf die rationelle Praxis für Bearbeitung und Zusammensetzung der Mechanismen, nebst gründlicher Anweisung zur Intonirung, Stimmung, und Saitenbemessung. Mit 75 Zeichnungen. Frankfurt am Main (neue vermehrte Ausgabe, 1856).
3. Die Clavierbau in seiner Theorie, Technik und Geschichte, unter Hinweisung seiner Beziehungen zu den Gesetzen der Akustik. Mit 91 Abbildungen. Frankfurt am Main (vierte mit einem Nachtrag vermehrte Ausgabe, 1870).
4. Ueber den Bau der Saiteninstrumente und deren Akustik, nebst Uebersicht der Enstehung und Verbesserung der Orgel. Ein Anhang zum Clavierbau in seiner Theorie, Technik und Geschichte. Frankfurt am Main, 1870.

Or in English:—

1. Technical drawings of musical instruments, whether string, wind, percussion, or friction; with special descriptions of their construction and compass, and an intelligible statement of their treatment and preservation. With 160 illustrations. Frankfort.
2. The Grand Piano, or the manufacture of the piano in all forms. A comprehensive explanation of Pianoforte construction from its origin up to the latest improvements, with special reference to the rational practice of making and setting up the action, together with well-grounded instructions for Toning, Tuning, and Stringing. With 75 drawings. Frankfort (new enlarged edition, 1856).
3. Pianoforte-making in its theory, practice, and history, with reference to its relations with the laws of Acoustics. With 91 illustrations. Frankfort (Fourth edition, with an ethnological and historical supplement dealing with the musical instruments of the Chinese and other Eastern nations, the Egyptians, Hebrews, Greeks, Romans, Gauls, etc.).
4. On the construction of stringed instruments and their acoustical explanation, together with a survey of the origin and improvement of the Organ. An appendix to Pianoforte-making in its theory, practice, and history. Frankfort, 1870.

These very meritorious works bear witness to Welcker's great industry. They are not, however, to be always accepted as authorities, and a comparison of the 'Clavierbau' with the 'Flügel' shows that the earlier works, for which he had presumably his note-books at hand, are more trustworthy than the later ones. Where reference to them is made in this Dictionary it has been with due correction, if necessary.

[ A. J. H. ]