Michael Mietke
Encyclopedia
Michael Mietke I was a German
harpsichord
and harp
maker, whose sons also became instrument makers.
He apparently lived his entire life in Berlin
and is known to have been an instrument maker there from, at the latest, 1695. He succeeded Christoph Werner
in 1707 as official maker to the court. He delivered a harpsichord to the court at Köthen
in 1719 on the recommendation of Johann Sebastian Bach
, which was probably the instrument for which Bach composed Brandenburg concerto no.5 as a show-piece.
Three of his harpsichords survive: a single-manual, in Hudiksvall
, Sweden, is signed 'Berlin, 1710'. In Schloss Charlottenburg, Berlin, there is one single-manual, which belonged to Queen Sophie Charlotte
, and one double-manual, both unsigned and probably made for the court.
Michael Mietke II (5 March 1702 - April/August 1754) was his son; he became harpsichord maker to the Königsberg
court in 1728.
Georg[e] Mietke (31 January 1704 - 1770), also his son, left Berlin in 1729, moving to Danzig, and then in 1739 to Königsberg, where he had a licence to build 'Claviere, und musikalische Instrumenten' in 1747.
Friedrich Mietke (1746; c.1805) was the son of Georg Mietke, and was taught by him until 1765. He became maker to the court in 1770.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
and harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
maker, whose sons also became instrument makers.
He apparently lived his entire life in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and is known to have been an instrument maker there from, at the latest, 1695. He succeeded Christoph Werner
Christoph Werner
Christoph Werner is a German football player with TSV Grebenhain.-Career:Until January 2007 Werner played for the amateur clubs SF Oberau and SV 1919 Bernbach. For Bernbach he scored 11 times in the first 20 games of the 2006/2007 Oberliga season. This was the reason for several professional clubs...
in 1707 as official maker to the court. He delivered a harpsichord to the court at Köthen
Köthen (Anhalt)
Köthen is a city in Germany. It is the capital of the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld in Saxony-Anhalt, about north of Halle.Köthen is the location of the main campus and the administrative center of the regional technical university Hochschule Anhalt which is especially strong in information...
in 1719 on the recommendation of Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
, which was probably the instrument for which Bach composed Brandenburg concerto no.5 as a show-piece.
Three of his harpsichords survive: a single-manual, in Hudiksvall
Hudiksvall
Hudiksvall is a city and the seat of Hudiksvall Municipality, in Hälsingland, Gävleborg County, Sweden with 14,850 inhabitants in 2005. Hudiksvall is also known as Glada Hudik , a term that originated in the 19th century as word spread of its friendly hospitality and its lively social life...
, Sweden, is signed 'Berlin, 1710'. In Schloss Charlottenburg, Berlin, there is one single-manual, which belonged to Queen Sophie Charlotte
Sophia Charlotte of Hanover
Sophia Charlotte of Hanover was the Queen consort of Prussia as wife of Frederick I of Prussia. She was the daughter of Ernst August, Elector of Hanover, and Sophia of the Palatinate...
, and one double-manual, both unsigned and probably made for the court.
Michael Mietke II (5 March 1702 - April/August 1754) was his son; he became harpsichord maker to the Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
court in 1728.
Georg[e] Mietke (31 January 1704 - 1770), also his son, left Berlin in 1729, moving to Danzig, and then in 1739 to Königsberg, where he had a licence to build 'Claviere, und musikalische Instrumenten' in 1747.
Friedrich Mietke (1746; c.1805) was the son of Georg Mietke, and was taught by him until 1765. He became maker to the court in 1770.
Sources
- Dieter Krickerberg: 'Mietke', Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed 2007-05-18), http://www.grovemusic.com/