One of the highlights of my professional
career has been the study and documentation of a harpsichord belonging
to the great harpsichordist Colin Tilney - an unsigned Italian instrument
with an astonishing and brilliant sound. I was able to identify this harpsichord
as being constructed in a previously undisclosed method: its case is made
more along the lines of an early Italian forte piano than an Italian harpsichord.
Clearly the instrument shows the strong influence of the inventor of the
forte piano, Bartolomeo Cristofori, and it appears inescapable that this instrument
is from his workshop at the Medici household. This harpsichord has a clear,
brilliant sound with a exceptionally long decay. With two 8' choirs in
brass, it is to my mind the perfect instrument for Buxtehude, Frescobaldi
and Scarlatti, and perhaps it is the ideal instrument for accompanying
voice or ensemble. Its range is C-ddd with the original 6 5/8" octave span.
The keyboard has boxwood naturals and ebonized walnut sharps. The
case has a painted exterior and lid interior, and an oiled
cedar of Lebanon case interior. The sound board is quartered cedar of Lebanon.
92 inches long, 32 inches wide, about 75 lbs, with three turned legs.
$19,700.00 Shown at left is the instrument, made with a custom, book-matched cedar of Lebanon lid.
The results of my research into this harpsichord are detailed in an article I wrote for the February 1998 issue (Volume XXVI, No. 1) of the quarterly Early Music (Oxford University Press); included are several photographs and drawings showing the interior details of the case. This article is available separately from Northern Light's "Premium Selection".
Click HERE if you would like to see the inside of this harpsichord and learn about the original instrument.
Intended primarily as a continuo instrument, this little harpsichord will find much use also in a solo role and as a nearly ideal instrument for the music student. Based on early Italian harpsichords and also on the Cristofori model, this oil-finished cedar of Lebanon harpsichord has a range of C-ddd, transposing between A-440 and A-415. This harpsichord has a brilliant and singing voice; it is easily heard in ensemble. In its basic form this harpsichord comes with a single 8' choir in brass; its slightly more expensive form has two 8' choirs. This is a very portable instrument capable of very impressive sound. It measures 70" long, 32" wide and 6 1/2" high, and weighs somewhere between 25 and 35 lbs. The keyboard has boxwood sharps and black-stained sharps. Included with the instrument are three turned legs, music desk and even a hinged lid. Just how portable is this harpsichord? Click HERE to find out!
Small Italian 1X8': $ 12,260.00
Small Italian 2X8': $ 12,975.00
Small Italian GG/BB-ddd, 8X8', $ 14,650.00
Italian Rectangular Virginal
This little delight is based on a number of antique models. The long scaling is pretty much that of the Poggio at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts for example. My version has a range of C/E-ddd, just 45 notes, but quite sufficient for early virginalist music. The C/E short octave, in which E plays C, F# plays D, and G# plays E, was written for in the repertoire, and is very easy to learn. This instrument has a cheerful, tubby and fairly loud demeanor, perfect for Fitzwilliam. Size, we learn, seems to have an inverse relationship with volume when it comes to harpsichords. This virginal is made from cedar of Lebanon, and has beech jacks. The keyboard has boxwood naturals and black-stained walnut sharps. The original scaling is for iron, but dictates being pitched at A/440 hz or even a bit higher. The dust cover / lid and stand are optional, but recommended. With the dust cover / lid you get a music desk. Otherwise, just perch it on a table and set a music stand up behind it. This instrument is very light, about twenty pounds or so without the lid or stand. Non-transposing, pitched at either 440 Hz or 415 Hz.
Virginal, C/E-ddd, $9,750.00
Lid / dust cover, cedar of Lebanon, $425.00
Stand, cedar of Lebanon and Honduras mahogany, $675.00
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