Harpsichord after Michael Mietke, undated, double-manual
Johann Sebastian Bach travelled from Köthen to Berlin in 1719 to pick up a harpsichord by Michael Mietke, which the latter had built for him - officially for his music-loving Prince Leopold. Of course, this reference to J. S. Bach makes the Mietke harpsichords so highly interesting to us. In addition, the Berlin Intelligenzblätter of the 18th century provide eloquent information about the masterly workmanship of the instruments from Mietke's workshop. If one studies Mietke's instruments and then builds them oneself, it becomes clear that they can indeed be an excellent medium for Bach's music.