Bibliography

Joris Potvlieghe was born in 1967 as second son of organograph and organbuilder Ghislain Potvlieghe and sculptress Gisella De Maeyer. He built his first clavichord at the age of 17 according to a personal design, which was inaugurated by Jos Van Immerseel. 

At the university of Leuven and at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels he followed lessons of music history. During that time, he did organological research in several German museums first his his father (Den Haag 1983, Bad Krozingen 1984, Regensburg 1985) later together with the piano-fortebuilder from Amsterdam, Jan Van den Hemel.

In the year 1989, when he finished his studies at the Royal Music Conservatory of Brussels, Knack recognised him as "Young Talent in Belgium".

He is specialised in 18th Century Saxon clavichords and manufactured 65 -all large non fretted clavichords - of them which are to be found in more than 20 countries throughout the world, played by the grand masters such as Gustav Leonhardt, Jos Van Immerseel, Miklos Spanyi, Benjamin Steens, Menno Van Delft, Andras Schiff, Trevor Pinnock. 

Since 2013 he studies the viennese piano-forte of Johann Fritz. A facsimile (6 octaves, 1816) has been realised in 2019 for Wim Winters.

His organ atelier restored about 15 historical organs from the 17th to the 19th century, among them Sint-Pieterskerk Turnhout (1662), Zonnegem (1841), Desselgem (1680), Houtem (1710), Borgt (1842), Gontrode (1834), Aaigem (1818), Gijzegem (1776), Aalst (1763). His instruments can be listened solo on more than 70 Cd recordings.

He also constructed new organs such as the organ for the church of Grimbergen (in Flemish style  XVII century), Walfergem (after Schnitger, 1680), Leuven Sint-michiel (after Contius, 1779), Wondelgem (after Contius, 1763), and for Nicolas De Troyer (after Stellwagen).

Over 15 organological studies from his hand have been published, among others in the Grove Dictionary of Instruments (Oxford University Press) and Clavichord International.

He gave lectures about organs, clavichords and pianoforte's, for the emeritus professors of the University of Leuven, the Ruckersgenootschap of Antwerp, the University of Torino.

In 2005 Joris Potvlieghe received the support of IWT (Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie) for a study concerning the optimalisation of sound reproduction. This lead to the research of the University of Brussels of acoustics and sound vibration. He started the company Orator, which is specialised in high-end loudspeakers, valve amplifiers and recording techniques. He gave also advise for the ECM recordings on clavichord with Andras Schiff in Abbey Road Studio (London).