Knipscheer

Abstract

Family of Dutch organbuilders. Hermanus Knipscheer I (chris. Dordrecht, 18 Feb 1772; d. 29 Mar 1833) came to Amsterdam and was almost certainly apprenticed to the organbuilder Dirk Johan Baars. After Baars's death in 1796, Hermanus probably took over his business. He built various types of small house organs (including some "latafelorgels," perhaps similar to the more widespread "secretary organ"), the smallest with only two stops. Knipscheer also built church organs in Berkel (1810), Amsterdam (Oosterkerk, 1817), and Amsterdam (Reformed Church, 1818), none of which survives. The Gemeentemuseum in The Hague owns a bureau organ signed by Knipscheer; a few other instruments are attributed to him. In 1830, the firm built an extraordinarily rich cabinet organ for its time (1/10; private collection). His son Hermanus Knipscheer II (b. 28 Aug 1802; d. 24 Feb 1874) entered into partnership with his father in 1825, and succeeded him after his death. Hermanus II was a prolific builder of house organs, many of which survive. In addition, he built thirty-two church organs, most of them two-manual instruments with fifteen to twenty stops on Hoofdwerk and Bovenwerk, with or without Pedaal stops. The specifications are highly standardized.