Johannes Zumpe

Biography

Johannes Zumpe went from Silbermann's shop to London in 1760, where the text says he was quickly infected with the commercial spirit of that city. He is called, without qualification, the 'father of the commercial piano.' Finding aristocratic makers such as Tschudi, Broadwood and Kirkman producing costly harpsichords and grand pianos, Zumpe decided instead to build a piano priced within reach of the well-to-do middle class. To cut costs he simplified the Cristofori action and adopted the square form of the clavichord, producing the first moderately priced square piano. Although the instrument had little merit in workmanship or tone, it filled a widespread demand, and Zumpe amassed a fortune in a comparatively short time, retiring while still young. His financial success, along with that of Kirkman and Broadwood, is credited with attracting capital to the London piano industry and helping make it the birthplace of the modern piano factory. Johannes Zumpe was a pupil of Gottfried Silbermann who, together with Americus Backers, moved to London and introduced a modified version of Christofori's hammer action, which was later further developed by various makers into what became known as the 'English' action. The text credits Zumpe with building the first English square piano in London around 1760-65; a photograph of a surviving Zumpe square piano from that period is reproduced in the book, along with an illustration of his hammer action. From Spillane (1890): Zumpe, a German workman, was employed in the London shop of Tschudi, the famous harpsichord-maker, before originating the 'square' pianoforte in London in 1760. He subsequently started his own business in London, where he became famous throughout England and the Continent. His damper and action improvements led to many valuable later results, and he amassed a large fortune during his lifetime, dying rich and famous. The historian Fétis disputed Zumpe's priority, crediting one Frederici with making 'squares' several years earlier, though Spillane treats this dispute as of little consequence.

Highlights

• Pupil of Gottfried Silbermann who emigrated to London with Americus Backers and introduced a modified Christofori action there that developed into the 'English' action
• Built the first English square piano in London around 1760-65
• Called by the author the indisputable 'father of the commercial piano'
• Simplified the Cristofori action and adopted the clavichord's square form to create the first moderately priced square piano
• Amassed a fortune and retired at an early age
• Originated the 'square' pianoforte in London in 1760 while employed in Tschudi's shop
• Started his own business in London and became famous throughout England and the Continent
• Amassed a large fortune during his life and died rich and famous

Sources

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911), pp. 46, 47, 48, 172, 173.

Daniel Spillane, History of the American Pianoforte (1890), pp. 19, 20.

Public domain.