EarlyMusicNews.Org

"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: 349

“Martine ARGELLIES has been a harpsichord maker since 1981. An enthralling, wide-ranging trade encompassing woodwork, acoustics, history and decoration, it is to teach the wood and iron how to sing and to do so, we must learn from the past how these sounds were born. Adding to the pure electrolytic iron of our century all the impurities spewed out by the blast furnaces we obtain the soft iron of the harpsichord strings. We train the ear and the scalpel towards the plectra ready to pluck the strings.

Many musicians, from the beginner to the professional, have already chosen these instruments. Three of them equip the Bastille opera in Paris. (200 harpsichords completed). ..”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 08, 2010 | Hits: 320

Patrick Lesurtel, Harpsichord Maker. See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 10, 2008 | Hits: 300

Marc Ducornet & Emmanuel Danset have developed an extensive range of instruments suitable for amateur to professional builders. Each instrument is offered in several versions, according to how much work you would like to do yourself. Every model is pictured in our Gallery, from where there are links to the detailed specification pages. o­n our site you can also find information about orders & deliveries, and spare parts & accessories ...

Added on: Jul 04, 2005 | Hits: 373

"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. …”

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Added on: Feb 08, 2008 | Hits: 481

“ Renée Geoffrion, born in Montreal, began playing the piano at the age of four. After studies at the Conservatoire de Montréal, she went to France where, in the years 1985-1987, she pursued lessons in interpretation, as well as training in piano tuning.

      Following her return to Canada, she obtained a Bachelor's degree in piano interpretation with high distinction from McGill University in 1991 and a master's degree from the University of Montreal in 1993. Returning to France, she studied fortepiano and clavichord with Patrick Cohen at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris (CNR) until 1998.

      Since 1992, when she completed a study on the traces of temperaments in Mozart's music for fortepiano, Renée Geoffrion has developed a passion for early keyboard instruments. Her enterprise « Una Corda », based in the Limousin region since 1998 at the invitation of « L'Ensemble Baroque de Limoges », restores and builds pianos, fortepianos and clavichords.

    Renée Geoffrion devotes herself to the promotion of the clavichord. She is active as a builder, restorer and as a performer, as a soloist on clavichord, forms the duo « Alliance Contre Nature » with Louis-Philippe Rivet at the electric bass and plays four-hands with Guy Campion. In April 2002, she registered her invention, the electro-acoustic clavichord and was granted a patent in July 2004. “

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Added on: May 25, 2011 | Hits: 268

Yves Crétinon, Harpsichord Maker. Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 10, 2008 | Hits: 423

"My musical and cultural interests and the collaboration with friends who are musicians have lead me at firs to manufacture Celtic harps, afterwards to be interested and gradually to develop a passion for ancient instruments, in particular harpsichords and spinets. Thus I have started my activity as an harpsichords maker, supported by study, professional education and an intense cultural and technical research, pursued also as a self-taught person, among the collections of ancient musical instruments of European museums. In 1991 I used my expertise as professor of restoration of ancient keyboard instruments in the classes for training specialists of restoration at the Piano Academy of Imola. The teaching experience was enriching and rewarding from both the professional and the human points of view but I gave up additional assignments to devote all my time to manufacturing and research..

From 1988 to 1994 my instruments were sold by “Il Laboratorio Musica ed Antichi Strumenti” of Milan, an organization that in those years was active in the music field (exhibitions of ancient musical instruments, restoration, classes, concerts…).

From 1995 I have looked after the sales personally and with satisfaction. This allow me to have a direct relationship with my clients, so as to comply with their specific requests and to give them a continual attention aimed at their particular technical needs.

Along the years I have verified, with professional proud, that my clients recognized the patient and skillful care of the working process, the worthiness reached through experience and scrupulous work, the very good quality-price ratio.

In this way collaborations that are going on since years were born and often they have became friendships founded on reciprocal esteem and the direct and clear understanding that is established between people that work with passion and dedication.

Some of my instruments have been played for CD recordings. Especially Master Marco Vincenzi has recorded the “Opera Omnia” of Bernardo Storace with an Italian instrument of mine, copy or “Grimaldi 1697”. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 06, 2008 | Hits: 418

" Harpsichord, virginals, spinets and clavichords based on the historical traditions and European national schools. Entirely hand made by the author , starting from the technical drawings to the decoration.

Making of my instruments is based on the classical tradition. This means that, even if inspired by the national schools of harpsichord making or by single makers of the past, my instruments, generally, are not close copies of any historical instrument.

Anyway, my wiews on remaking instruments is inscribed within the rules of this craft as we know reading the old treatises, examining the survived instruments of the past and studing the tradition of this art between XVI and XVIII centuries. ..." Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 02, 2008 | Hits: 414

"Born 1955, harpsichord maker, restorer and scholar of keyboard instruments, I was pupil of Grant O'Brien and also studied temperaments with Mark Lindley. After an apprenticeship, in the 1980s I established my own workshop.

My experience as a restorer and organologist have given me a background that has enabled me to produce high quality instruments built according to historical principles. My works have received the approval of an international clientele. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 23, 2008 | Hits: 377

"Our company, founded in 1975, has specialized from the very beginning in the production and restoration of historical musical instruments. After many years of rich experiences and considerable investments in structure, R&D and market surveys, BIZZI has developped a new idea that in the last few years has placed the company in a significant position among the most qualified manufacturers of historical keyboard instruments.

Some prestigious initiatives, carried out in the years 70s and 80s, like the restoration of the Collections of the Museo del Teatro alla Scala in Milan and the Museo Correr in Venice, as well as the foundation of the Scuola di Liuteria of Milan, have allowed Bizzi to acquire the indispensable know-how and background for the launch a new project which would have required about ten years before being completed.

The goal was the establishment of a new company based on the same manufacturing principles of the greatest harpsichord makers of the past, and particularly the Ruckers dinasty, which is a unique example of high quality combined with great efficiency and incredible productivity. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 24, 2008 | Hits: 369

“Florentine by birth, a lover of early music and baroque always, with scientific and technical training, Franco Barucchieri dedicated long years to research on the harpsichord, despite the commitments of a professional activity.

In his research, beginning in 1968, he attended museums and private collections of musical instruments from all over Europe. …”

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Added on: Apr 29, 2011 | Hits: 226

"Kennedy Harpsichords is a small workshop in Tuscany, Italy building harpsichords and clavichords after 17th and 18th Century historical models.

Our instruments can be found throughout the world and heard on more than 100 recordings. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 24, 2008 | Hits: 402

“Mario Del Grosso began his activity as an instrument builder in 1980, subsequently attending courses by Grant O’Brian in 1982 / 83 and  Christopher Clarke in Antwerp.  He brought his attention  especially  towards  the construction of spinets, virginals, and  Italian,  Flemish and French harpsichords. In  1987   he  completed  the integral  construction  of  a  copy  of  a fortepiano by A. Walter conserved at the Nurnberg Museum,  first in Italy. He has combined his work as a  builder with  restoration work  performed  on harpsichords and fortepianos of historical prestige held in private collections and museums. While on tour in Austria, Hungary, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the United States and Canada, M. Del Grosso has been fortunate enough to carefully  study prestigious  instruments  kept in their respective museums, analysing  various  construction methods and details and exchanging  facts  and viewpoints in numerous  encounters  with  European  and  American instrument makers. Mario Del Grosso has given  summer specialisation courses on the construction and restoration of  harpsichords, and conferences on keyboard instruments, taking  part in numerous  festivals and  expositions, such as Stresa, Cervo, Pieve di Teco, Urbino, Antwerp, Moneglia and Perugia. He also plays harpsichord  and fortepiano as solo,  in  various  ensemble  of  early music ensemble and with singers, in  numerous concerts in Italy and other country making TV recordings and compact disks. He started his study at the Conservatory of Genoa graduating in Piano and Harpsichord, finishing his preparation with David Collyer, Aline Zilberajch and Gustav Leonhardt.“

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Added on: Jul 05, 2009 | Hits: 337

“For twenty years I have been collecting and restoring antique keyboard instruments. I also build copies of harpsichord and spinet built only on historical models. …”

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Added on: Apr 29, 2011 | Hits: 260

"Tony Chinnery builds and restores harpsichords and other keyboard instruments. The site contains descriptions of some of the instruments he has built and restored, harpsichords, spinets, chamber organ, with photos and sound examples as well as information on the Cristofori piano built by Kerstin Schwarz, and a harpsichord buyers guide. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 13, 2008 | Hits: 452

"Born in 1959, I began studying piano at the age of 11. I devoted myself to the study of composition too, but soon I took an interest in organ and in 1985 I graduated at the Conservatory of my city, Palermo. I pursued my studies in l'Aquila under M° Giorgio Carnini's guidance and then at Musikhochschule in Munich with Klemens Schnorr. At the same time I passionately devoted myself to the organological study of the keyboard instruments attending summer courses and prestigious workshops. I formed my workshop which rapidly has imposed itself as the only reality in this field in Central and Southern Italy. The extraordinary quality of the instruments, defined with a meticulous care for the details, has received great recognitions by all the performers who use them for concerts and recordings. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 446

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 29, 2011 | Hits: 222

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

“Akio Obuchi started harpsichord building in 1969.  After visiting museums and instrument builders in Europe in 1975, "learning from historical works" has been his fundamental attitude of instrument making.  He makes replica of extant instruments or new instruments within the categories with period and countries. He always keeps tone characters of finished instruments in mind through the entire proecess of making instruments. Since the first experimental Geigenwerk was made in 1993, he cannot give-up his dream of keyboard instrument with which the player can control tone pitch and dynamics, he continuously challenges making mechanically bowed keyboard instruments.

He started violin lessons at seven years old.  Through his experience in playing the violin in symphonic orchestra, chamber ensemble, and baroque consort, his interest buildup more on period instruments, and studied baroque violin with Keiko Watanabe, since 1984.  He is performing concerts with his friends in churches and other places.  

In 1971, he received MS degree in mechanical engineering from Nihon University.  His working career started with research and development on electro-acoustic transducers at Pioneer Electronic Corp.  Then, moved to Schlumberger Oilfield Services Inc. to further develop his professional career, contributing in R&D programs on acoustic measurements for oil and natural gas explorations.  After working several years for Vodafone Co., Ltd. he resigned in 2004. Since then, his time is fully dedicated for research and making historical keyboard instruments.  

Member: Japan Clavichord Society; American Musical Instrument Society”

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Added on: Sep 15, 2009 | Hits: 454

Harpsichord Maker. "The Associate in Japan of Atelier Marc Ducornet, Sole Japanese agent of The Paris Workshop". Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 24, 2008 | Hits: 391

"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: 970

“With an extensive background in repairing and tuning the "modern piano", Edwin Beunk started his own workshop in 1981. Johan Wennink joined forces with him in 1985. Their ardent interest in the fortepiano resulted in a specialization in this particular field. In 1992 Ben Kamphuis and Carolien Dopheide joined the team. Today they have a lot of experience in the restoration of all predecessors of the modern piano: from the Viennese 'Hammerklavier' from Mozart’s time up to the later pianos of the Brahms era. But also many an instrument from London and Paris - the other piano-building centres of former days - went through their workshop before starting a new life in the hands of musicians all over the world.

Restoration is either commissioned by clients of their own instruments or carried out for buyers of pianos held in stock.

Edwin Beunk built up a collection of antique pianos from the period 1780 up to 1870, all instruments that relate to the pianos of the important composers. Therefore there are no giraffe pianos, down striking instruments or square pianos.

Instruments in the collection have been used in more than 170 recordings. They are also available for concerts.”

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Added on: May 09, 2011 | Hits: 225

"... I'm Herwil van Gelder. I live in the northern village of Groningen Warfhuizen where my instrument workshop is in the former village school.
Since leaving 15 years regularly newly created harpsichord, clavichord, organ and sometimes even related instruments like the lute. Also maintenance and restoration have been important activities. On these pages I put in brief my vision of building and restoration of baroque instruments.
The instruments that I construct are regularly used in CD recordings, such as the CD's' The Complete Works of Keyboard JP Sweelinck '(label: NM Classics 92119) and the Orland Lassus / Chansons (RIC 154149). They are also often live to hear in many concert at home and abroad.
I invite you in my workshop to my own instruments to play and my practice to learn. ... " (Google and editor translation) Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 23, 2008 | Hits: 382

“Curiosity Started Me Building Harpsichords

Today it is as strong as it was when I began my first instrument in 1973. Every new harpsichord is a voyage of discovery. This is because of the manner in which I work.

It starts with designing the instrument. I base my design on one or more existing instruments of a certain builder or a school of building.

I don't copy: I want to design the instrument the way that builder would have done with the materials available now and following the wishes of my client. I use the experience I gained from previous harpsichords I made. The process continues in the building phase: working on, I continually ask myself why the builder made the choices he made and that leads to all kinds of ideas, which I pursue. I work from the whole, from which the details arise, and when I change a detail, all changes, so adjustments may be necessary again. On the one hand it is seeking, on the other hand it is to be inspired.

Because of this way of working I cannot make more than 3 to 4 instruments per year.

The result always turns out to be good: the last harpsichord always is the best I ever made. But I can only hear that when it is properly played upon for the first time, by someone who really can do that, when player and music merge and the instrument in fact disappears. That is the way I want to make my instruments: that one doesn't hear the instrument, just music.”

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Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 332