Guestbook and Discussion

www.harpsichord.org.uk

Name: Neil Bracken
Date: 8/1/03

Subject: English Harpsichord History
I am working on an MA research project at the Guildhall university. My subject is the "Jenny" Harpsichord in the Talbot Manuscripts.Any information in and around this period (1692-95) on English Instruments, gratefully received.

Great site. Thank You

Name: David Galbraith
Date: 14/1/03

Subject: Feedback
A Harpsichord Society seems like a very good idea to me. I'm always keen to meet fellow enthusiasts, especially so I can talk to someone about figured-bass without their eyes glazing over ...
Good Luck

Name: Nicola Stein
Date: 22/1/03

Subject: Expressive Devices
I am a music student at Edinburgh University currently working on my honours dissertation entitled "Expressive devices applied to the harpsichord and the music that can be played on them" Does anyone else out there share my enthusiasm for the machine-stop and the venetian swell and their possibilities?

Name: Mike Cooper
Date: 23/1/03

Subject: LP Discography
I HAVE AMASSED 636 LP'S OF HARPSICHORD MUSIC OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS [AND JUST ONE CD WHICH I OCCASIONALY USE TO REMIND MYSELF HOW POOR CD'S ARE AT CAPTURING THE FULL SOUND.] I KNOW MY COLLECTION IS INCOMPLETE AND GUESTIMATE AROUND A THOUSAND LP'S OF CLASSICAL MUSIC EXISTED SO MY QUEST GOES ON! WHAT DO YOU THINK OF ELSTE'S DISCOGRAPHY AS A SOURCE BEARING IN MIND IT IS A DISCOGRAPHY OF MODERN HARPSICHORD MUSIC--I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT AND IT'S A BIT PRICEY TO BUY ON SPEC? DO YOU KNOW ANY OTHER COLLECTOTRS OF LP'S OR UNITARY SOURCES OF LP DISCOGRAPHY PUBLISHED OR AVAILABLE ON THE NET[EVEN IF IT'S SUBMERGED WITHIN CD LISTS] APOLS IF THIS IS A BIT HEAVY BUT ITS NOT EVERY DAY ONE GETS A CHANCE TO ASK.

Name: Elaine Fine
Date: 5/2/03

Subject: New Chamber Music Piece for Harpsichord
I have recently written a piece for harpsichord, Baritone Voice, modern flute, and cello that is a setting of "The Gloves" from Laurence Sterne's "Sentimental Journey." I am writing to the British Harpsichord Society about this because I imagine that there is a bit more interest in things related to Sterne in England than I have found in my part of the world (the middle of Illinois in America). The piece is in a sort of "galant" style that uses late 18th century textures and modern harmony. It is very singable and rather tonal (in a modal sort of way). If anyone is interested in looking at a score of this piece please let me know by Thank you

Name: Walter Greenwood
Date: 18/2/03

Subject: Bach's Harpsichord
Three cheers! The evidence is there and the sound reasoning is there. Besides, Bach was an organist, and organists LOVE low notes. I know - I'm one myself. I am also a h'cord builder who has not yet dared to build even a single 16'. To those who disagree, I will not stoop to President Bush's level and call you "irrelevant", but I would love to hear your well-reasoned thoughts on the large volume of evidence in support of Bach's use of the 16' choir.

-WG, U.S. citizen in favor of peace, clean air, and very low notes

Name: David Galbraith
Date: 27/4/03

Subject: Anthony Holbrook
I have just acquired a harpsichord signed around the sound-hole 'Anthony Holbrook 1974'

I wonder if any colleagues can give me any information about this maker.

Name: Peter Brownlee
Date: 19/5/03

Subject: Derek Adlam Muselaar
I am interested in buying a Derek Adlam muselar. Mr Adlam advised me that he is no longer making instruments. The few Adlam muselars of which I am aware in North America are going to the grave with their happy owners, it would seem. A friend in England suggested that I contact you as someone in the Society might be able to assist me in my search. I shall also look forward to keeping abreast of harpsichord related activities, articles, recordings, etc from the UK, also. Thank you very much for this opportunity. Regards, Peter Brownlee

Name: Brian Peters
Date: 20/5/03

Subject: Machine stops on English harpsichords
I have recently acquired an absolutely marvelous CD of music by Haydn and Mozart played on the 1772 Kirkman owned at one point by Mrs. Gilbert Russell, but now residing in the historic chapel of the Couvent du Bon-Pasteur (Convent of the Good Shepherd) in Montreal. I have looked through Hubbard's and Raymond Russell's books to get a good description of the machine stop on this instrument, but haven't found much information. Does anyone know:
a) how it actually operates
b) what it actually looks like (apparently, a knob on the left side of the keywell activates the mechanism).

Name: Gérard Janot
Date: 27/5/03

Subject: Re:Machine stops on English harpsichords
This mechanism is described and illustrated in the well known book "Three Centuries of Harpsichord making" by F. T. Hubbard

Name: Helen France
Date: 17/6/03

Subject: Making Music
I play the recorder to professional level and am interested in hearing from harpsichord players (and other instrumentalists/singers) interested in playing baroque (concerts/for pleasure) either at 440' or at 415'. I am based in the South East. I am quite happy for my email address and phone no (020 8301 2610) to be released to members. I am also a professional clinical hypnotherapist and have had good success helping people with study/practise blocks, exam nerves and performance anxiety.

Name: Pedro A Tesone
Date: 18/8/03

Subject: Some Questions of Interest
1. ¿Is it true that Mozart ceased to compose sonatas for the harpsichord as from the 6th., usually called "Dürnitz-Sonate", being the rest of them dedicated to the pianoforte?

2. Joseph Haydn outlived Mozart, so it is not unbelievable that the old man could have turned from the harpsichord to the pianoforte in some point of his prolonged authorship. ¿Does any evidence exist in favour of this hypothesis?
Thank you in advance,
Dr. Pedro A. Tesone

Name: Helen France
Date: 28/8/03

Subject: Recital Offers
I would be interested in doing a recital with a harpsichordist - I play the recorder to a very good standard and would be happy to do a concert either at 440' or 415' - I live on the borders of Kent and SE London and have a car.

Would anyone like to join forces with me? Helen

Name: Andrew Watson
Date: 8/9/03

Subject: Baroque Repertoire Definition
For the purposes of the repertoire project, my advice would be to fudge it. Specifying an actual date is bound to be controversial. I would have thought the key question would be whether a piece was probably written with the harpsichord in mind. After all, people will argue that Bach's 48 were written for the clavichord, or that later Scarlatti sonatas were written for the fortepiano, or that William Byrd's keyboard pieces were written for the virginal(s) and/or organ etc etc. And warming to the theme, I guess you could make out a case for Georg Ligetti, Herbert Howells and Francis Poulenc etc etc. In other words it's a minefield. But if we're the British Harpsichord Society the guiding principle should be the instrument rather than the date, I would have thought. Thus I would certainly include Johann Krebs, for example.

Andrew

Name: Susanne Shapiro
Date: 25/9/03

Subject: An American in London
My former student, Ian Pritchard, now living in London, suggested I look you up. I will be in London October 26 through probably November 14 and would enjoy meeting some of you, give an informal recital, etc. I recorded on William Mitchells Claviorganum when it was in the States umpteen years yago. (Radio station KUSC) I am a member of the San Diego Harpsichord Society. You can find out about me by putting in my full name, Susanne Shapiro. Cheers
PS I am now also a prof. Graphologist: thewritetruth.com

Susanne

Name: Mel Daniels
Date: 15/11/03

Subject: new music
Do you know of any performer looking for new music for the harpsichord?

-Mel

Name: Andy Bolsover
Date: 23/11/03

Subject: Advice please
I came across your interesting website and wondered whether you can help me to trace a piece of harpsichord music that I heard many years ago, in the late 60s or early 70s. I heard this music on the radio. The composition was just for harpsichords - no other instruments. I can not remember how many harpsichords there were but this was certainly more than four, possibly as many as eight playing in rounds. This was a modern composition, probably its first performance, and possibly at a Promenade Concert.

The details are vague but I guess that someone with contacts through your website may know the piece. Can you tell me what this piece of music was?

Andy Bolsover

Name: Simon Fogg
Date: 1/12/03

Subject: help?
My father died earlier in the year. He made harpsichords, spinnetts,viles etc. as a 'hobby'?? There is a workshop full of selected woods, bits of wire, lolly sticks etc. and I think probably a nearly finished one( harpsichord Italian i think?). There is a big double manual etc, any way all this is worthless to the un initiated or, and possibly in valuable to those in the know. Un fortunately, although others in the family can appreciate the music etc. none of us could make a clavichord let alone a harpsichord. Do you know where we might be able to find a 'good home' for this sort of stuff.

Simon Fogg

Name: Kah-Ming Ng
Date: 2/12/03

Subject: Italian harpsichord for Charivari Agréablerecording
The Oxford-based Charivari Agréable is recording 17C Italian repertory for cornett, viol & violin early 2004 (their 12th CD), and would like to borrow an Italian harpsichord for the recording - the crunchier the sound, the better. Any kind offers? Your contribution will be gratefully acknowledged in the CD booklet.

Cheers,

KM

Name: Giuseppe Accardi
Date: 16/1/04

Subject: Collecting and Maintaining Old Instruments
I am interested in collecting and mantaining old instruments. I would like to get in touch with other collectors, makers and restorers for discussing restoration and mantainance problems. My collection of historical instruments is available for visits and study purposes for all those who are interested in historical harpsichords

I would like to hear from other members who have experience with feathers quills, ( for quilling harpsichords, of course), and how to get those feathers.

Giuseppe Accardi

Name: Vince Ho
Date: 7/2/04

Subject: Maker Identification
I will be taking delivery of a 1970 Delf Italian harpsichord soon. Anyone has ever heard of this maker? Update

Vince H

Name: David Galbraith
Date: 19/2/04

Subject: Transporting a harpsichord
My aged Volvo estate has nearly moved its last harpsichord: I need a new (secondhand) car. Volvos are now very rare. Can any fellow harpsichordists suggest any other estate cars (UK) that can take a 7'6" (2286mm) harpsichord? As long as the front passenger seat can collapse backwards and there is preferably a split rear seat this length can be from the rear door to the dashboard. Advice would be much appreciated.

David Galbraith

Name: s Marsh
Date: 30/4/04

Subject: Transporting a harpsichord
My Subaru Legacy Estate can manage a 2m harpsichord with my wife squashed into the front passenger seat. Very reliable car too. Good Luck.

S Marsh

Name: Jeremy Burbidge
Date: 12/4/04

Subject: Raymond Russell Prize
I am attempting to compile a list of winners of The Raymond Russell Prize which was for harpsichord students at the UK Colleges of music.

Can anyone please supply this information?

Jeremy Burbidge

Name:Marcus McCarroll
Date: 18/4/04

Subject: Recording a harpsichord
steel guitarist / recording engineer / composer interested in harpsichord, from johan bach to johnny guarnieri. would like to acquire a 'real' keyboard of some description, wants to record keyboards, wants to contact anyone locally with similar inclinations. via websearch..........

Marcus McCarroll

Name: Aline Zylberajch
Date: 30/4/04

Subject: Elizabethan Music in England
A question from a colleague : who do you think is the "big" specialist of elisabethan music in england and which recording would you recommend ?

Name: John Edmonds
Date: 30/4/04

We have just published a facsimile edition of James Nares, Organist of York Minster, Eight Setts of Lessons for the harpsichord 1747. Preface by Dr Peter Holman