Keyboardist & Composer

Genzoh Takehisa

武久源造

Entering through historic instruments and research
to create the new music of the 21st century —
in pursuit of the sound Bach sought, with the Silbermann piano
he restored and refined with his own hands, the harpsichord, and the organ.

Philosophy

Historic instruments are not a destination — they are a gateway. To create the new music of the 21st century out of the sound that Bach pursued: that is Genzoh Takehisa's life work. Performances and improvisations on the Silbermann piano he restored and improved himself, original compositions, and Bach on the harpsichord are shared in concert, on record, and on his official YouTube channel.

Biography

Genzoh Takehisa

Born in 1957 in Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan. Graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts (Graduate School of Musicology) in 1984.

"Simply convincing, incredibly effective," said music critics of Genzoh Takehisa's interpretation of Buxtehude's organ works, along with his own oratorio "Creation," during a German tour with Musica Poetica. Takehisa began learning the harpsichord in 1969 at the age of twelve. At the Tokyo University of the Arts he majored in the rhetorical theory of 16th- and 17th-century European music.

Performing professionally throughout Japan since 1984, Takehisa commands a repertoire that ranges from the Middle Ages to contemporary works, and has been composing and arranging since 1986. His many recordings on the ALM and Aeolian labels — more than 35 CDs to date, including his own productions — demonstrate his virtuosity on harpsichord, organ and fortepiano. Numerous albums, among them the Goldberg Variations and the series "The Realms of Keyboard Music," have been selected as recordings of special merit by the leading music journal "Record Geijutsu." In 2000 he founded his own vocal and instrumental ensemble, Conversum Musicum, with which he toured Korea annually from 2002, building a lasting musical bridge between the two countries.

In 2002 he published his landmark book "New People Make New Music." From 1998 to 2010 he lectured at Ferris University College of Music. In 2013 he conducted the first Japanese performance of Rameau's "Les Paladins" to great acclaim. In recent years he has performed annually across Europe — in Germany, Lithuania, Iceland and Sweden among others — with programs on organ, harpsichord and other instruments that always include improvisation.

🎉 The 20th Homma Kazuo Culture Award (2023)

Announcement by the Japan Braille Library (in Japanese)

Instruments

Silbermann PianoTHE HEART OF HIS SOUND

Reconstruction: Kenta Fukamachi (2007)
Model: Gottfried Silbermann, 1747
Improvements: hammers, dampers and more, handcrafted by Genzoh Takehisa
Pitch: A = 415 Hz
Temperament: Neidhardt "für ein Dorf," arranged by Takehisa

A fortepiano of the type Bach himself played — its voice brought back to life, and placed at the center of Takehisa's performances and improvisations.

Square PianoTHE PIANO OF CHOPIN'S SALON

Maker: Seuffert & Seidler (Vienna)
Date: 1827–1846
Provenance: received in Osaka, 2018
Restoration: Genzoh Takehisa (strings & hammers by hand)
Compass: six and a half octaves (CC–g'''')

The instrument of the home and salon that Chopin knew. Of this name only three or four survive worldwide — this rare one, revived by his own hands.

Pedal HarpsichordA RARE KEYBOARD

A harpsichord with a full pedalboard beneath the manuals
One of the rarest of keyboard instruments
Only about a dozen players have recorded on it in sixty years

A rare harpsichord whose feet, too, can sing a line. Takehisa explores the possibility that Bach played works on such an instrument.

Broadwood GrandA VICTORIAN GRAND

Maker: John Broadwood & Sons (London)
Date: c. 1866 (Victorian)
Action: English action (single escapement)
Compass: seven octaves, 85 keys (A–A)
A plain, direct build; the lid opens only to 45°

A Broadwood from the age of Brahms and Clara Schumann — the straightforward voice of a single-escapement action. Genzoh Takehisa keeps it alive by his own hand, and his students, too, come to know this sound.

Other Historic KeyboardsHISTORICAL KEYBOARDS

Clavichord
Harpsichord (German type as played by Bach, equipped with pedalboard)
Walter piano (fortepiano of the type played by Mozart and Beethoven)
and others

The Silbermann piano with its lid open (Mito Sōgakudō, 2026) — The Silbermann piano today — Mito Sōgakudō, 2026

The graceful curved side of the Silbermann piano (Mito Sōgakudō, 2026) — The Silbermann piano today — Mito Sōgakudō, 2026

Full front view of the walnut square piano, lid raised, standing on turned legs with a lyre-shaped pedal — a 19th-century Viennese domestic piano — Square piano by Seuffert & Seidler (Vienna, 1827–1846) — the instrument of the home and salon that Chopin knew

Square piano by Seuffert & Seidler, lid open — Square piano by Seuffert & Seidler (Vienna, 1827–1846) — the instrument of the home and salon that Chopin knew

Genzoh Takehisa playing a clavichord — a rectangular box-shaped instrument with strings running horizontally behind the keys — Clavichord — the quietest of all keyboard instruments, in Genzoh Takehisa's workshop

Genzoh Takehisa beside the green box-shaped clavichord, one hand resting on it — Clavichord — the quietest of all keyboard instruments, in Genzoh Takehisa's workshop

The Broadwood keyboard and the gilt nameboard “John Broadwood & Sons London”, with its pierced music desk — Broadwood grand — the keyboard and the nameboard “John Broadwood & Sons, London” (c. 1866, London)

Full view of the two-tiered pedal harpsichord with its pedalboard, on a concert stage — Pedal harpsichord — a harpsichord with manuals and a full pedalboard, one of the rarest keyboard instruments in the world

Making hammer pads — the heart of the instrument, by his own hand — Restoring instruments by his own hand — hammers, tuning, and the craft of sound

Tuning and maintaining an instrument at home — Restoring instruments by his own hand — hammers, tuning, and the craft of sound

Knowing each instrument from the inside, working on it with his own hands, drawing out the fullest of its character — a way of music-making that instrument builders themselves hold in high regard.

Videos

Brand film (84 sec.) — Discovering the sound Bach sought, and carrying it onward to the future: pedal harpsichord, Silbermann piano, improvisation, and scenes of the performer repairing his instruments with his own hands

Silbermann Piano

J.S. Bach: Sinfonia No. 6 in E major, BWV 792 — on the Silbermann piano (Seiho Ongakukan, 2026)

In pursuit of the Silbermann piano's tone — Genzoh Takehisa's hammer-making and restoration (rare footage)

Harpsichord

J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations BWV 988 (complete) — recorded live on a German two-manual harpsichord

J.S. Bach: Prelude & Fugue in G major, BWV 541 — on the pedal harpsichord

Square Piano

Chopin: Étude in F minor, Op. 25 No. 2 — on an 1830s Seuffert square piano

Lectures & Improvisation

Lecture — “A View of Life in Bach’s Music”: four rhetorical figures, from the English Suites to the Chaconne, with live performance (Kunitachi College of Music, 2023)

69th Birthday Special — a continuous improvisation by Genzoh Takehisa

Official YouTube Channel

Gallery

Black-and-white portrait of Genzoh Takehisa at a keyboard instrument — Genzoh Takehisa

German harpsichord and Silbermann piano on stage — German harpsichord and Silbermann piano

Genzoh Takehisa at the Silbermann piano, lid open, a hand raised over the keyboard — At the Silbermann piano (2022)

Genzoh Takehisa in black, playing a large harpsichord on stage, the instrument's graceful curve seen from the side — Harpsichord solo (on stage)

Genzoh Takehisa talking beside a keyboard instrument in warm light — With the instrument (2020)

Genzoh Takehisa's hands at the keyboard — At the keyboard

Genzoh Takehisa playing the Silbermann fortepiano on a blue-lit stage — Silbermann piano solo on stage

Genzoh Takehisa smiling on stage, with a wooden harpsichord and a tapestry — On stage

The pedal harpsichord in blue light (Kioi Hall) — Pedal harpsichord — Kioi Hall

Genzoh Takehisa performing before a pipe organ at the former Sōgakudō concert hall — At the former Sōgakudō

Genzoh Takehisa laughing brightly on stage — A moment on stage

A Silbermann fortepiano seen from above, its open lid, strings and soundboard — Silbermann piano (full view)

Hands playing a double-manual harpsichord — Playing the harpsichord

Concert Schedule

Concert and media appearances, updated by Genzoh Takehisa himself. Times are shown in Japan Standard Time.
Ticket information for each concert is provided within the individual calendar entries.

Open the calendar in a new page

Discography

More than 35 CDs released since 1991, chiefly on ALM Records, many selected as recordings of special merit by "Record Geijutsu." A selection of major releases:

NEW Bach's Alchemy Vol. 3 — The English Suites (complete), BWV 806–811 Latest album. Order on Amazon
ALM Bach's Alchemy Vol. 2 — The Well-Tempered Clavier, Books I & II (4 volumes) Complete recording on harpsichord and fortepiano
ALM The Realms of Keyboard Music, Vols. 1–9 A landmark series exploring harpsichord, organ and fortepiano — several volumes honored by "Record Geijutsu"
ALM Goldberg Variations (harpsichord) Recording of special merit, "Record Geijutsu"
ALM J.S. Bach: Partitas on the Silbermann Piano Performed on the Silbermann piano he improved himself
ALM J.S. Bach: Concertos I–IV / St. John Passion / Handel: Messiah, and more Including recordings with Conversum Musicum
Aeolian Beloved Jesus (organ arias) / Siface's Farewell / The Nightingale in Love "Beloved Jesus" — recording of special merit, "Record Geijutsu"

Buy CDs on Amazon

Lessons

A small number of students are welcomed. The following instruments are available for lessons:

Clavichord
Harpsichord (German type as played by Bach, with pedalboard)
Silbermann piano (fortepiano of the type Bach played)
Walter piano (fortepiano of the type played by Mozart and Beethoven)
Broadwood piano (a Victorian antique grand from the age of Brahms and Clara Schumann), and others

Technique, interpretation, practical ideas for concert performance — from fundamentals to the future-minded and creative, every question is welcome.

¥11,000/lesson
Adults

¥7,000/lesson
University students

¥5,000/lesson
High school & younger

Fees are per lesson. Frequency and format are arranged to suit each student.
Applications: info@genzohtakehisa.com

Links

YouTubeOfficial channel — performances, improvisations, original works X@genzohtakehisa SpotifyListen to recordings PodcastTalks (in Japanese) Instagram@genzoh_takehisa LectureLecture site (in Japanese) CDBuy CDs on Amazon

Contact

For concert and event engagements, TV and radio appearances,
talks, seminars and all other inquiries:

Genzoh Project

MAIL: info@genzohtakehisa.com