About
Bob van Asperen (born 8 October 1947, in Amsterdam) is a Dutch harpsichordist, early keyboard instrument performer and conductor. He graduated in 1971 from the Amsterdam Conservatory, where he studied the harpsichord with Gustav Leonhardt and the pipe organ with Albert de Klerk. Since then he has been performing extensively in Europe and the rest of the world as a soloist and accompanist/conductor.
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In addition to his live performances, he has recorded repeatedly for several labels, including Sony, EMI, Teldec, Virgin, and Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, specialising in the keyboard repertoire of the 16th - 18th centuries, such as the harpsichord works of Froberger, J. S. Bach, and Handel. One of the most important discography projects he has undertaken is the complete keyboard works of C.P.E. Bach and also the complete sonatas of Catalan composer Antonio Soler (Astrée, 1992). Various other projects are under way, while many of his recordings have been awarded numerous prizes, such as the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik and the Diapason d'Or.
Bob van Asperen has taught at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and the Amsterdam Conservatory and for the past thirty years he has given master-classes in Europe, USA and elsewhere. In addition to his teaching activities, he has contributed as a musicologist and editor of several modern editions of works by J. S. Bach and Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, as well as other early Dutch composers.
Member of
Discography
Albums
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Music for Harpsichord
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12 Recorder Sonatas (1734)
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Complete Sonatas for Recorder
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Hamburg Concertos
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Das wohltemperierte Clavier 1. Teil
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J.S. Bach: Sonatas for Viola da Gamba / J.C.F. Bach: Sonata in A (from "Musikalisches Vielerley")
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Goldberg-Variationen
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The Harpsichord in the Netherlands - 1580-1712
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Integral de la obra para clave
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Prussian Sonatas / Württemberg Sonatas
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Sonatas
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Cello Sonatas / Fugues for 2 Cellos
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Complete Flute Sonatas
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Das Alte Werk - Highlights - Extraits
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Concertos for 2 Harpsichords
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Concertos for 3 & 4 harpsichords
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Organ Concertos, op. 4
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Canzoni
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The Well-Tempered Clavier
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Trio Sonatas for Flute
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Lessons with Bach
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A l'honneur de Madame Sibylle: Suites
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Concertos and Sonatas for oboe
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Hommage à l'Empereur: Suites
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Pour passer la mélancolie: The Newly Discovered Berlin Manuscript
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Violin Sonatas op. 5, Nos. 1-6
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Lascia fare mi: Complete Fantasias & Canzonas, Toccatas
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Louis Couperin edition vol. 1: Preludes de Mr Couperin
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Louis Couperin edition vol. 2: Passacaille de Mr Couperin
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Le passage du Rhin: The Programmatic Suites, Lamentation, Tombeau
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Concertos for solo harpsichord
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Ricercar: Complete Ricercari, Chigi Toccatas
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Toccatas / Goldberg Variations
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Capriccio: Complete Capriccios
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The Wind Instruments Sonatas (Sonatas For Recorder & Transverse Flute)
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Organ Concertos, op. 7
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Couperin edition vol. 3: Chaconne de Mr Couperin
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Toccata: Toccatas & Motets
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Suittes voor't Clavier
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Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080
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Suittes de Clavessin
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War & Peace
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Klavierkonzerte Vol. II: BWV 1055–1059
Compilations
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Œuvres pour Orgue / Pièces de Clavecin
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Well-Tempered Clavier, Toccatas, Goldberg Variations
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Flute Concertos & Sonatas
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Concertos for 2, 3 & 4 Harpsichords
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Harpsichord Concertos
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The Complete Wind Sonatas
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Chamber Music for Trumpet and Winds
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From the Court of Frederick the Great
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Sonatas: Blockflutes 4
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6 Sonate Metodiche
Links
Teacher
Also known as
Bob von Aspen
Tags
- dutch harpsichordist
- harpsichordist
- harpsichord
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- 1f7af258-5683-4fdd-be7a-6e60d69ad12a
- ISNI
- 0000000114746338
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 8 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.