J. S. Bach and the Unfretted Clavichord

Abstract

«The instrument he loved to play the most was the clavichord», wrote Johann Nikolaus Forkel in 1802 about J.S. Bach. This strong assertion sparked controversy in the early 20th  century. Critics argued that Forkel was either misinformed by Bach’s sons or that his personal preference influenced his claim. Nevertheless, Forkel’s biography remains a highly significant source of information. Various 18th-century sources shed light on the clavichord’s importance in Bach's life and the particular developments this instrument underwent during his time. The final decade of the 17th century marked a pivotal moment for the clavichord. No longer merely a practice instrument for organists, it evolved into an independent and expressive keyboard instrument, for which composers began to write and publish music. These developments took place in the milieu of the young J.S. Bach, who encountered the latest publications and innovations through his older brother in Ohrdruf.