Johannes Adolf Ibach

Biography

Johannes Adolf Ibach, following the German custom of 'wandern'—traveling on foot from city to city to learn from acknowledged masters—left the monastery of Beyenburg once his education was complete, having studied organ and piano making with several of Germany's best masters. He returned home a master of the art and was entrusted with remodeling the great organ at Beyenburg, doing such excellent work that his standing was immediately established. Like most organ builders of his day, he longed to build pianos instead, a field promising greater opportunity for invention and business than the church organ, and he soon gave his entire attention to pianos. In spite of the severe business depression caused by the Napoleonic wars, Ibach's business grew steadily, though the strain undermined his health. At age 59 he had to hand the business to his eldest son, Carl Rudolf Ibach, then only 21, and from 1825 dates the rise of the house of Ibach. Johannes Adolf Ibach started a piano-making business near Barmen, Germany, in 1794.

Highlights

• Started a piano-making business near Barmen in 1794
• Left the monastery of Beyenburg after training as an organ and piano builder and remodeled the great organ at Beyenburg
• Turned his attention fully to piano making despite the depression caused by the Napoleonic wars
• Had to hand his business, at age 59, to his 21-year-old son Carl Rudolf Ibach in 1825, marking the rise of the house of Ibach

Source

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911), pp. 222, 223.

Public domain.