Johann Adolph Hass

Who was Johann Adolph Hass?

Johann Adolph Rudolph Hass was a German clavichord and harpsichord maker, the son of Hieronymus Albrecht Hass, who was also a clavier maker. He should not be confused with the German composer Johann Adolph Hasse.

He lived his life in Hamburg, and received his citizenship there on 28 October 1746. In 1747 he became a member of the city chamber of commerce. His daughter Margaretha Catharina married the instrument maker Johann Christoffer Krogmann, who may have succeeded to Hass's business; he built fortepianos in the English style.

The first mention of either he or his father as instrument makers was in 1758; 'Hasse in Hamburg' is described as the maker of a cembal d’amour by Adlung. Charles Burney included them in 1773 among well-known German organ builders; 'Hasse, father and son, both dead', he wrote, and added that 'their Flügel and Claviere are much sought after'.

His surviving instruments include one harpsichord and a number of clavichords, rarely fretted. These are generally large and brass-strung, with a compass of C to d''' or F' to f'''. He sometimes used 4' strings for the bass. It was large instruments such as these that many late 18th-century German composers had in mind when composing for the instrument, with good bebung ability and a bright tone.