Taskin, Pascal (-Joseph)

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Taskin, Pascal (-Joseph)

Taskin, Pascal (-Joseph), French manufacturer of keyboard instruments; b. Theux, near Liège, 1723; d. Paris, Feb. 9, 1793. He went to Paris at an early age and entered Blanchet’s atelier, later marrying Blanchet’s widow and succeeding to the business in 1766; was named court instrument maker and keeper of the king’s instruments in 1774. He became highly celebrated as an instrument maker; invented the leather plectra for the harpsichord (1768), replacing the crow quills previously in use. He built his first piano in 1776. His nephew Pascal-Joseph Taskin (b. Theux, Nov. 20, 1750; d. Versailles, Feb. 5, 1829) was Keeper of the King’s Instruments from 1772 until the Revolution. His son Henri-Joseph Taskin (b. Versailles, Aug. 24, 1779; d. Paris, May 4, 1852) was an organist and composer.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire