EarlyMusicNews.Org

"My shop provides historically based finished instruments, performs restorations, repairs and instrument completions. I specialize in quilling with celcon for a dramatic increase in performance, sound and reliability. I have completed many unfinished instruments for clients who have not chosen to do so themselves for whatever reason. Repair and restoration work is performed with the intention of rendering instruments "concert" ready.

My clients here in the arid Western United States including the Aspen Music Festival and Institute, Denver School of the Arts and the University of Northern Colorado have the advantage of purchasing an instrument made from wood that has acclimated to a drier climate. All case and soundboard parts have air dried for at least seven years. Swiss pine soundboards may be as old as thirty years. After reaching my workshop these materials season for a further period of at least one month before construction begins. This insures stability of tuning and lessens the need for frequent and costly adjustments to the action. Instruments brought here from the wetter coastal areas invariably develop numerous splits and cracks in the soundboard and case. Conversely however, when I send an instrument from here to a moister environment, the wood merely expands a bit but does not break. You won't need to create a climate controlled music room for your harpsichord.

Over the past twenty-two years I have built forty+ early keyboard instruments. You may choose from several instruments including the painted French double harpsichord, Flemish single and double harpsichords, Italian harpsichord, a single manual harpsichord in hand oiled American cherry and a large or small clavichord. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 24, 2008 | Hits: 476

"Early music artists tend to be passionate about their music. Similarly, professional instrument makers can have intense feelings about their work. As a harpsichord maker, I am committed to producing instruments that are inspiring to the eye, the ear, and the hand. I have developed my harpsichords and clavichords to meet the desires of professional musicians and other serious players who look for the ultimate in musical expression and fulfillment. My instruments are as timeless as the antiques on which they are modeled, and I am devoted to the continuing satisfaction of their owners.

My harpsichords and clavichords are the product of an individual hand. I research, analyze, and build these instruments in a way that is faithful to period construction techniques. This fidelity is not an antiquarian exercise: Quite simply, it produces the best instruments, assuring excellent sound, stability, and longevity. As with many fine things, a good instrument gains in character with age. With proper care, the instruments I make will last as long as their seventeenth- and eighteenth-century ancestors; they will also continue to maintain their value. Only instruments made the way I make them can offer you a sense of expanding musical expression, enjoyment, and value for generations.

My instruments embody more than 28 years of research, in both archival study and hands-on work examining, measuring, and restoring antique harpsichords and clavichords. While my instruments are not line-for-line copies of individual antiques, each model type is based on a particular instrument which represents the essence of the work of a maker like F. E. Blanchet II or Pierre Donzelague, or of an entire regional group like the Parisian or the Hamburg schools. This foundation of research offers modern players a genuine link to the origins of the music they study and perform. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 24, 2008 | Hits: 280

"Andrew Lagerquist has been involved in the world of early keyboards since 1973, when he began working in the shop of Frank Hubbard. He later worked in the shops of William Dowd and John Phillips. Since 1990 he has been on his own pursuing instrument building, instrument repair, and concert tuning in the San Francisco area.

His great passion has become the Swedish style of clavichord making, of which he offers and has built several designs. His large clavichords after Lindholm-Söderström were prominently featured at the 2001 Boston Early Music Festival. His clavichords have been performed on in concert by Richard Troeger, Richard Fuller, Mikko Korhonen, and Pekka Vapaavuori.

His instruments are made to order in a small workshop by himself. All are based on historical examples, most of which have been personally examined. Though emphasizing Swedish clavichords, other instruments will be considered, and in fact he is currently building an early un-fretted example from the Saxon school. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 24, 2008 | Hits: 341

"Carl and Marilee Dudash design, build, and decorate harpsichords and clavichords in the styles of the 16th, 17th, and 18th Centuries in their workshop in the northwest hills of Connecticut. Their instruments have been sent to customers across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Carl's designs are firmly based on historic principles, but they incorporate changes to improve structural integrity and modifications to customize the instrument to suit the client's wishes. Marilee is an accomplished artist who has studied the decoration of antique instruments in the finest museum collections in Europe and the United States. Her work includes traditional soundboard paintings, landscape paintings for lids and cases, faux marbre, chinoiserie, and gold leaf or bronze powder case designs. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 24, 2008 | Hits: 294

"Since 1981, I have been making Italian harpsichords and clavichords in San Francisco, my native city. In recent years, I have been making small organs as well. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 24, 2008 | Hits: 365

"I first became interested in harpsichords in the late 70s. In 1980, I built my first instrument, a Flemish Single from Zuckermann Harpsichords Inc. I then studied with San Francisco teacher and performer Kathy Roberts Perl, who continues to be my teacher and valued adviser to this day.

I went into business in 1984 and shortly thereafter, began a professional relationship with David Way of Zuckerman Harpsichords, becoming his agent for the San Francisco Bay Area. This relationship lasted until 1992 when I left ZHI to pursue my own building from historical designs.

I have also been active with several West Coast arts organization. From 1985 to 1995, I worked with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra serving variously as stage manager, harpsichord technician, and tour manager. I also worked with Carmel Bach Festival from 1988 to 1997. And I served on the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Early Music Society including Board President from 1989 to 1992. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 24, 2008 | Hits: 395

"Ici vous trouverez les services offerts par l'Atelier de Lutherie "Le Pin Lyre" pour l'entretien et restauration des clavecins et des épinettes. Vous pourrez aussi voir quelques exemples de travaux effectués par M. Thomas Murach, facteur de clavecins, et consulter les tarifs des interventions pour vos instruments." (transl. "Here you will find services offered by the Atelier de Lutherie "Le Pin Lyre" for the maintenance and restoration of harpsichord. You can also browse through some examples of instruments constructed by M. Thomas Murach, harpsichord maker as well as list price of services offered." (ed.)) See website for more info. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 08, 2008 | Hits: 350

"As of 1988, I learned the basics with  Lewis Jones, at the London College of Furniture, later London Guildhall, now London Metropolitan University. After much research 'Ariata' eventually came into being, and this is the trade name for my  interpretation of a  single manual F to f French harpsichord. …”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 08, 2008 | Hits: 483

Harpsichord Photo: "This is a site for sharing photographs and specifications of instruments that belong to members of HPSCHD-L. " See site for more info. and photo submission details. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 03, 2008 | Hits: 286

"Welcome to the Harpsichord Services of London Website. We have a variety of top quality harpsichords and a small chamber organ available for hire for concerts and recordings. We are also happy to tune, repair, or transport your harpsichord, clavichord, virginals, spinet, or fortepiano in London or the Southeast of England. "

Added on: Feb 02, 2008 | Hits: 417

"The design of our jacks was originally inspired by Ruckers jacks, particularly where the dimensions of the tongues are concerned, and to some extent the thickness of the bodies. Tongues are currently cut from very nice straight and quarter sawn hornbeam, to maximise the strength at the plectrum slot. (slab sawn tongues are 4 x weaker than quarter sawn, and hence 4 x more prone to splitting. 31 mm long by 4.2 mm wide and 2.8 mm thick, they are fully shaped in profile and aspect. We no longer use a cut across the back of the plectrum slot, as this just weakens the tongue at the slot. The aim being to maximise the strength of the tongue at the plectrum slot, and lighten it as far as possible elsewhere. 6 degree upward slope on plectrum slot. Similarly the jack body we try to make quarter sawn - as did Ruckers - giving a 4 x stronger damper slot, and a more stable jack. Rock maple has served as the material for recent years. Wild Service, pear, holly, beech are other possible materials." See website for more info. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 02, 2008 | Hits: 455

"I have been involved with making, restoring and repairing harpsichords, clavichords, virginals, spinets and early pianos for most of my working life, and the vast majority of my customers for brassware know the funny world we inhabit very well. I realise however that a website will inevitably reach others, so a few words of explanation might be appropriate. Harpsichord family instruments like pianos have large lids although not I hope quite so massive. The lids need to be securely fastened but also must be readily removed....for example when a harpsichord is used with a baroque orchestra the lid open would hide players and the music they make. The 'strap' hinges therefore are mostly fitted to the top surface of the lid and fasten to the spine, the pivot being below the lid; the different strap hinges have varying depths for the 'return' and there are fixing holes for the return to the edge of the lid as well as those on the top; these are fitted with a loose pin; some however have no return and are showing on the inside of the lid when it is open. Some of either type are made with a fixed pin and the lid slides off to the tail to remove it. The 'flap' hinges are meant for the joint between main lid and the front 'flap', which exposes the keys and the wrestplank, and are mostly fitted to raised battens on the top surfaces, angled so that the flap opens rather more than parallel to the main lid. Here the important dimension is the open width, since they have to fit onto the battens and not stick out. Locks are either of the 'lock & hasp' variety, or fitted into the top outside edge of the casework, either being very visible and therefore decorative. I'm sure there are many more ways of using any of these decorative hinges than I've thought of.....This is basically a one-man business; I don't pour the metal but I do all else, so any hinge could be given a loose pin if needed; or left with an unpolished but slightly rippled finish from a blast cabinet and glass bead, or even if you have the right object, cast in bronze or even silver (or possibly aluminium although we haven't tried this). The foundry is very small too so we have some flexibility. "

 Visit website for more information and pricing of parts. (ed.)

 Tags: David Law

Added on: Feb 02, 2008 | Hits: 460

"The Period Piano Company was established in 1976 by David Winston, who is widely recognised as one of the world's leading makers and restorers of keyboard instruments. Among our clients are some of the world's great musicians, museums and private collections. We have been entrusted with the restoration of antique pianos of great historical importance, including the piano which was made for Beethoven in 1817 and instruments associated with Chopin, Mendelssohn and Liszt." ...

Added on: Aug 03, 2007 | Hits: 315

Supply house in Belgium.

Added on: May 25, 2007 | Hits: 320

Early keyboard and part supplier. See the site for more information.

Added on: May 22, 2007 | Hits: 541

"In our workshop we have the facilities to repair or overhaul both historical and 20th century harpsichords. We hold a good stock of parts and accessories for repairs and upgrading of most harpsichords throughout the world.

We are pleased to give quotations on labour costs for work and services carried out in our workshop with a guarantee that no extra expense is incurred on any repairs or restoration work unless the customer is in full agreement.

Please ask about our facility to fit any of our Harpsichord or Spinet parts or accessories to your instrument, including cutting-in of the plectra if we install our HCH Jack Conversion Kit. "

Added on: Apr 10, 2007 | Hits: 347

"As a specialist on Italian harpsichords and maker of other string keyboard instruments, I offer a synthesis of research on their history with the building of new instruments to meet your requirements.

You can inform yourself about my thesis and other publications on Italian instruments including stringing with Nuremberg wire."

Added on: Apr 10, 2007 | Hits: 579

"- New instruments and repairs to keyboard instruments including square pianos
- Maker of covered strings for clavichords and square pianos
- Tunings, maintenance and hirings in the Bath area
- Traditional soundboard painting by Sheila Barnes and Jennifer Douglas
- Harpsichord Rescue Service Guide Prices Revoicing from £100 per register. Phone 01373 831498 for a free quote
- Secondhand Harpsichords and Keyboard Instruments
- Plans and Instructions"

Added on: Apr 10, 2007 | Hits: 390

"Tatsuo Takahashi was born in 1952 in Tokyo. His grandfather was a master furniture artisan who lived through the Art Deco period in his youth, and his two uncles are also furniture artisans of the highest level.

In such an environment, Takahashi was able to develop woodworking skills and an intimacy with the spirit of wood from a young age. He took interest in the harpsichord as a 17 year-old high school student, and gradually began researching the instrument. He was only 20 years old when he finished building his first harpsichord, during his days as a student at the Musashi Institute of Technology. Since then, he has continued to build harpsichords and clavichords using his own unique methods. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 09, 2007 | Hits: 973

"I build and repair historic keyboard instruments as well as tune and service modern pianos in San Diegos North County. My current offerings include Harpsichords, Clavichords and Fortepianos."

"My philosophy is simple. I endeavor to make the best instruments both tonally and constructionally as I know how for the most reasonable price to the customer. I am well aware that there are many people who would love to own a handcrafted instrument but the price is just out of their reach. It is my belief that a well-made clavichord, harpsichord, or fortepiano should be affordable to almost anyone who truly wants one."

Added on: Apr 09, 2007 | Hits: 331

The workshop of William Horn is located near Brescia (a city with a long tradition in the art of musical instruments making), in the fifteenth century historical Palazzo Maggi-Trebeschi.

Himself a musician and performer, William Horn has been able to combine his interest in musical performance with the organological study, and the construction of the keyboard instruments for early music.

Added on: Apr 09, 2007 | Hits: 366

"Andrew Garlick has been building harpsichords, spinets and virginals in Somerset since 1972 and has gained an outstanding reputation for the quality craftsmanship, clear tone and fine appearance of his instruments. Built to order using authentic materials with accurate historic detailing, they can be decorated to suit individual requirements.

Andrew specialises in French and Flemish harpsichords and examples of his work can be seen all over the world. Many are owned by well-known performers and are often featured in concerts, radio broadcasts and recordings. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 09, 2007 | Hits: 409

Facteur de clavecins.

Authored book: "Les Clavecins"
Language: French
Format: Book (Illustrated), 263 pages
Publication Date: January 1990
Publisher: Unknown
ISBN-10: 2877880060

Added on: Mar 30, 2007 | Hits: 394

My interest in early keyboard instruments dates back to 1978. Since 1985 I have been making harpsichords, spinets, virginals and clavichords in my own workshop in the northwest of Austria. I have also restored a few original instruments for private owners in Austria.

My instruments are never exact copies. They are either inspired by a particular historical instrument which has in most cases been personally examined, or they are built in the style of a certain instrument-making school and period. Each of my instruments is individually handcrafted to order. They are built o­n strictly historical lines using appropriate methods and materials which would have been used by the old masters. Working o­n my own I build o­nly a small number of instruments per year. I make most of the components myself, including keyboards, action parts, tuning pins and various other items like tangents and overspun strings for clavichords. The action consists of traditional wooden jacks with no regulating screws, the tuning pins are hand-forged with flat tops and no holes but they have a light hand-filed thread.

Most recent restorations include a square piano which is said to have been in the possession of Konstanze Mozart.

Added on: Mar 19, 2007 | Hits: 529

Orgues et Clavecins Alain Dieu
Atelier de construction artisanale
12, rue de l'Eglise
F- 25360 VAUDRIVILLERS
tel/fax: 03 81 60 45 02
Email: wwkbank@rocketmail.com

Added on: Mar 17, 2007 | Hits: 429