Hatchlands,
a property of the National
Trust , stands in a handsome, wooded park, landscaped
by Humphrey Repton, and is just 23 miles from London. Splendid
rooms designed c. 1758 by Robert Adam are furnished
with the Cobbe Collection of Old Master paintings and composer
instruments.
Alec Cobbe formed the collection of some 50 historic keyboard
instruments during the last forty years, his purpose being
to assemble instruments by makers who were highly regarded
or patronised by composers. Eighteen of the instruments were
actually owned or played by some of the greatest creators
of classical music, such as Henry Purcell, Johann Christian
Bach, Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven,
Fryderik Chopin, Franz Liszt, Georges Bizet, Gustav Mahler
and Edward Elgar - the largest group of such composer-related
instruments to be seen in one place anywhere in the world.
The instruments are maintained in playing condition and are
used for concerts. In 1997 they were given to the Cobbe Collection
Trust, a charity which aims to enable musicians and audiences
to hear music sounding as nearly as possible to what the composers
themselves would have heard.
A pdf version
of the concerts programme may be downloaded here
Harpsichord
by Andreas Ruckers, Antwerp, 1636. Ravalement by
Henri Hemsch, Paris, 1763. Virginals
by John Player, London, 1664, Probably from the
Court of King Charles II.
Maintained by Purcell. Square
Pianoforte by Johannes Zumpe and Gabriel Buntebart,
London, 1777-1778.
Taken to France by Johann Christian
Bach. Grand
Pianoforte by Conrad Graf, Vienna, c. 1836. Square
Pianoforte by John Broadwood and Sons, London,
1844. Used and signed by Elgar. Grand
Pianoforte by Ignace Pleyel 1848, owned by Chopin. >> This instrument is featured on www.timesonline.co.uk
<< Grand
Pianoforte by Erard, London 1843. This instrument
belonged to Chopin’s pupil, Jane Stirling.
For a comprehensive look at
the Collection please see list of instruments in the
menu below.
