Inger Grudin-Brandt

Swedish harpsichordist, clavichordist and forte-pianist, born August 27, 1934, Stockholm, Sweden, died May 12, 2019.

She belonged to the first batch of students at Stockholm's singing classes (now Adolf Fredrik's music classes) and she took piano lessons for Hilda Waldeland, among others. At the age of 14, the career choice was clear: she would become a pianist. After matriculation, she therefore began studying with Hans Leygraf in Darmstadt, but found after two years that her hands were not good enough for the large piano repertoire. A friend suggested that she study the harpsichord with Fritz Neumeyer in Freiburg instead.

Neumeyer was one of the leading experts of his time in what is today called style-informed conducting practice and had a collection of playable older piano instruments in his home. He was also a warm advocate of the low-pitched but expressive clavichord. She stayed for four years.

She was now firmly rooted in Germany, had started a family and made a living as a musician, but after a divorce she chose in 1970 to move back to Sweden together with her son Jens. Now begins what will become Inger's life's work: arousing interest in the historic piano instruments. She gets a driver's license and travels around the country in a Toyota bus loaded with harpsichords, clavichords and harpsichords, she gives concerts and organizes courses. Through her contacts with instrument manufacturers in Germany and the USA, she becomes a Swedish retailer of piano instruments and building kits for such. She records several discs, i.a. for the company BIS and is heard regularly on Sveriges Radio. By forming the association Svenska Klaverets Vänner, she realizes one of her artistic ideas: to let professionals and amateurs play for each other and socialize in pleasant ways.