Grove's dictionary of music and musicians

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RUCKEES
RUCKERS 185
Christopher Ruckerg (8), of whose make he shop for clavecin making ? The priest was
owns a specimen. M. Vander Straeten refers everything at that epoch, and a scholar, an
to another in the Museum at Namur. We cannot
determine Christopher's relationship to the and normal.'
organ or spinet-builder seems to us quite natural
other Ruckers, but he might have been the Her We will now give the list of the existing Ruckers
Christofel Ruckers, organist and clockmaker of instruments as complete as we have been able
Termonde, where he set up a carillon in 1549 to make it. The kind and never-tiring help of
—possibly a priest, at least the title 'Her' MM. Mahillon, Meerens, and Vander Straeten
would indicate a person regarded with veneration.
The same writer, in the 5th vol. p. 393 Renaix, as well as of other friends, in compiling
of Brussels, and of MM. Snoeck and Regibo of
of La Musique atcx Pays-BaSj continues, who
' it, is gratefully acknowledged.
knows if this Christopher did not own a work-
Catalogue of Ruckers Clavecins, still existing (1907), as far as possible according to date.
BxtrcTne measurements of length and width. ^
In all the sound-boards are painted with devices, generally of fruit, birds, and flowers.
I. Hans Ruckeks de Oude (the Elder).
General Dcficription.
Present Owner.
Source of
Information.
ft. in. ft. in.
Bent aide.
7 4 by 2 9 2 keyboards, not original ; black naturals ; 4} CciUection of the late M. A. Rdgibo.
octaves, G—E ; finely painted. Bose No. 1, B^gibo, Renaix.
Bent side.
7 by 2 lOi 2 keyboards, not oriffinal ; black naturals Mus(ie du Conservatoire,
Paris,
G. Chouquet.
Oct. ; extended by Blanchet.^ Inscribed Hans
RDCKBR8 HB FBOiT Antvurfiab ; Bose No, 1,
2 keyboards ; case en laque ' de Chine ' ; 6 stops Chfiteau de Pan, France. Bpire Blondel, La
it genoullUre.'
Revue Britannigue,
Oct. 1880.3
Trapeze. 1S91 5 7 by 1 11 1 keyboard ; compass 3| octaves, E—C. White T. J. Canneel, Director T. J. Canneel.
naturals. Bose No. 1. Red and black omamentation
on yellow ground. Inscribed ' Sci-
Royale, Ghent.
of the Academic
entia nou habet inimicum nisi ignoraiitem.'
Date on cover, 1591.
Bent side
5 II by 2 6 2 keyboards; the front one 4 oct., C— C ; the
harpsichord
with
Gewerhe Museum, Ber- A, J. Hipkins.
side one 3i Uu.
3 stops in original position at the righ1>-hand
octave
side ; white naturals. Rose No. 1 ; and Rose
spinet in
one.
to octave spinet an arabesque.
showing a combined
Painting inside
top similar instrument.
Mr. Lionel Gust considers the painting
to be by Hieronymus Jaussens. Inscribed
Oblong.
Haks Ruckors he: fecit Amtwerpia.
1 keyboard, 4} oct., O—C (short octave in bass, Mile. Jeanne Lyon, Paris Exhibition,
not original) ; white naturals. Inscribed Paris.
Joannes Rvckbkh Fscjt Antwbrpiab 1598,
'
and Dulcissimum reficit tnstia corda melos.'
Oblong.
Oblong.
Bent side.
I mStre. 45
(width)
5 ' byl 7
6 6 byl 7}
7 6 by 2 11
3i oct. Rose H.R. Original decoration simple,
subsequently painted In grisaille. Inscribed
JOANVES BT ANnRBAS RVCKBRS FeCERVNT
1604.
2 keyboards one above the other; white naturals;
4) Oct., C—P e&ch. The upper and octave instrument
a later addition by the maker.
Inscribed Hans Ruckers me fecit Aktvbr-
PIAE, 1610.
1 keyboard, 3 octaves, short octave in bass. Inscribed
Hans Bvcke:rs ue fecit, Antwerp,
1610, and 'Laudabo nomen Dei cum cantico et
magnificabo eum in laude.' The case is of
ebony inlaid with engraved ivory. A small
octave instrument.
Mus