The Hichwa-Rachor database contains one original bassoon of Mathäus Hirschstein (c.1695-1760). He was a wealthy music dealer in Leipzig from c.1744 to his death in 1760. Hirschstein was not himself a bassoon maker but placed his stamp on instruments made by journeyman woodwind makers. This bassoon is the only known extant example of a Hirschstein bassoon.
Mathäus Hirschstein 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. “Der Instrumentenbau in Leipzig zur Zeit Johann Sebastian Bachs.” In 300 Jahre Johann Sebastian Bach, edited by Hans-Joachim Schulze and Christoph Wolff, 174–192. Tutzing: Schneider, 1985.
Heyde, Herbert. Musikinstrumentenbau in Preussen. Tutzing: Schneider, 1994.
Heyde, Herbert. “Der Holzblasinstrumentenbau in Leipzig in der 2. Hälfte des 18. Jahrhunderts.” TIBIA (Moeck), no. 3 (1987): 481–486.
Lütgendorff, Willibald von. Die Geigen und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart. Band 2. Frankfurt: Frankfurter Verlags, 1922.
Rachor, David. “A Bassoon by Hirschstein: The Instrument and Its Possible Use in the Military.” The Galpin Society Journal 57 (May 2004): 117–24, 179.
Vannes, René. Dictionnaire Universel des Luthiers. Spa, Belgique: Les Amis de la Musique, 2003.
Waterhouse, William. The New Langwill Index. London: Tony Bingham, 1993.
Hirschstein, Mathäus, 4 key bassoon; Hirschstein1-O-Rachor
Hirschstein1-O-Rachor General Information