Franz Jakob Späth
Franz Jakob Späth entered the world in Regensburg, a city that would host his entire professional life. He was born into a family of organ builders and likely received his initial training from his father. The workshop passed to him in 1747 when he took charge of operations. That same year marked another major shift as he married Johanna Rosina Schessinger. Their union produced seven children, though only three survived childhood. This domestic reality shaped the environment where his technical skills developed over decades.
In 1751, Späth presented a tangent piano to the Elector of Bonn. This instrument used non-pivoting vertical hammers called tangents instead of traditional pivoted hammers. Ernst Ludwig Gerber later reported that the instrument offered thirty tone variations. By 1770, those variations had increased to fifty. Jean Marius had proposed a similar mechanism to the French Academy of Sciences back in 1716. Christoph Gottlieb Schröter claimed an invention with comparable action in 1717. Späth never used the term tangent piano himself since that phrase did not appear until 1791. He referred to the mechanism as Tangirung or described the instrument as Pandaleons Forte-pianos.
Johann Andreas Stein apprenticed with Späth from 1749 to 1750. Stein's claviorgan of 1781 clearly shows Späth's influence on his work. In 1774, Späth established a piano building firm with his son-in-law Christoph Friedrich Schmahl. Schmahl came from a family of organ builders and brought his own expertise to the partnership. The firm continued production under Schmahl's name after Späth died on the 23rd of July 1786. Christian Carl inherited the business but dissolved it following his death. Schmahl manufactured instruments bearing both names until 1793.
Späth built the organ for Regensburg's Dreieinigkeitskirche which was completed in 1758. Johannes Strebel renovated the instrument in 1892 by replacing principal pipes and adding three reed pipe ranks. Detlef Kleuker performed another renovation in 1966 that made the new organ prone to faults requiring frequent repairs. Jürgen Ahrend rebuilt the instrument again between 2009 and summer 2020 to better suit Johann Sebastian Bach's music. Späth also constructed the organ in Oswaldkirche during 1753. He planned a new organ for the Regensburg Cathedral before the bishop vetoed the project. The bishop instead instructed him to repair the cathedral's old organ.
Forkel praised Späth's fortepianos in his 1782 publication. Mozart wrote to his father in 1777 stating that Späth's fortepianos were his favorite before he encountered Stein's work. An advertisement appeared on the Leipziger Zeitung on the 10th of September 1765 promoting instruments with combined fortepiano and harpsichord actions. In 1770, Späth advertised an instrument featuring three manuals combining Tangirung action with plucking mechanisms. Reports indicate Beethoven refused to play on an instrument made by Späth. Junker postulated that Beethoven was not accustomed to playing Späth's pianos since he played Stein's instruments in Bonn.
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Common questions
When was Franz Jakob Späth born and where did he live?
Franz Jakob Späth entered the world in Regensburg, a city that hosted his entire professional life. He lived there from birth until his death on the 23rd of July 1786.
What invention did Franz Jakob Späth present to the Elector of Bonn in 1751?
In 1751, Späth presented a tangent piano to the Elector of Bonn using non-pivoting vertical hammers called tangents instead of traditional pivoted hammers. The instrument offered thirty tone variations initially which increased to fifty by 1770.
Who apprenticed with Franz Jakob Späth between 1749 and 1750?
Johann Andreas Stein apprenticed with Franz Jakob Späth from 1749 to 1750. Stein's claviorgan of 1781 clearly shows Späth's influence on his work.
Which organs did Franz Jakob Späth build for churches in Regensburg?
Späth built the organ for Regensburg's Dreieinigkeitskirche which was completed in 1758. He also constructed the organ in Oswaldkirche during 1753.
Did Mozart and Beethoven play instruments made by Franz Jakob Späth?
Mozart wrote to his father in 1777 stating that Späth's fortepianos were his favorite before he encountered Stein's work. Reports indicate Beethoven refused to play on an instrument made by Späth because he played Stein's instruments in Bonn.