Grenser, Heinrich Bassoons

The Hichwa-Rachor database contains twelve original bassoons of Johann Heinrich Grenser (1764-1813) and one copy based on a Heinrich Grenser bassoon in the Hichwa-Rachor database. He was trained in Dresden under his uncle August Grenser and flourished in Dresden from 1796 until his death in 1813. Heinrich’s original bassoons are highly sought-after instruments for collectors and period bassoonists.

Johann Heinrich Grenser Literature
[Revised 8 February 2025]

Dullat, Günter. Verzeichnis der Holz- und Metallblasinstrumentenmacher auf Deutschsprachigem Gebiet von 1500 bis Mitte des 20. Jahrhunderts. Tutzing: Scheider, 2010.

Heyde, Herbert. “Die Werkstatt von Augustin Grenser d. Ä. und Heinrich Grenser in Dresden.” Tibia, Moeck, no. 4 (1993): 593–602.

Heyde, Herbert. Musikinstrumentenbau in Preussen. Tutzing: Schneider, 1994.

Heyde, Herbert. “Markers’ Marks on Wind Instruments.” Translated by William Waterhouse. In Waterhouse, William. The New Langwill Index, xiii. London: Tony Bingham, 1993.

Jansen, Will. The Bassoon: Its History, Construction, Makers, Players and Music, Vol. 1, p. 380-383. Buren: Frits Knuf, 1978.

Langeveld, Erik. Tentoonstelling van fagotten, prenten, boeken, en manuscripten uit de collectie van Henk de Wit. Amsterdam: De Ijsbreker, 1992, p. 6.

Tromlitz, Johann George. The Keyed Flute, on Grensers 198-201. Translated by Ardal Powell. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1996. [Mostly concerns Grenser’s flute making, but it has some critical insights for bassoonists. A translation of the Critique of The Keyed Flute by Heinrich Grenser can be found on p. 227.]

Waterhouse, William. The New Langwill Index. London: Tony Bingham, 1993.

Young, Phillip. “Inventory of Instruments: J.H. Eichentopf, Poerschman, Sattler, A. and H. Grenser, Grundmann.” The Galpin Society Journal 31 (May 1978): 100–134.

Young, Phillip. 4900 Historical Woodwind Instruments. London: Tony Bingham, 1993.

Young, Phillip. Loan Exhibition of Historic Double Reed Instruments. Victoria, Canada: University of Victoria, August 1988.

Young, Phillip. The Look of Music, 157. Vancouver: Vancouver Museums Association, 1980.