The choir organs of Ottobeuren abbey

Riepp's organs have been repaired several times over time. Our institute did a preliminary investigation to control whether the archival records correspond with the preserved substance of the instruments.
The boriscopic photographs reveal first details of the craft of the maker Karl Joseph Riepp.

Bernard Morlot (1766); Riepp family portrait (Museum of Ottobeuren Abbey)

The stand shows a manuscript of the Menuet in the „Premier livre de Pieces de Clavecin“ by Jean-Philippe Rameau. The slight differences in notation indicate that it was not directly copied from the print (see below). Obviously the families Rameau and Riepp were well acquainted, father Jean and brother Claude (Riepp's best man at his wedding) as well as Jean-Philippe being organists in Dijon. The harpsichord of this portrait might well have been one built by Riepp himself, as common custom with organ-makers at this time.