EarlyMusicNews.Org

Den Ciul & Dawn Lyons -- "We build, sell, service, repair, rent, restore, tune, and transport harpsichords, clavichords, spinets, virginals, forte pianos and other historical keyboard instruments. Our shop is in Toronto, Ontario Canada, but our "territory" is much larger. With our trusty Van Strype we travel regularly to visit our clients and their instruments in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and the states of Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana; New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and both Carolinas (we really like that, do call us if you are from a warm place!). We also do consulting and appraisals as well as sales and service. If you are looking for a harpsichord, or just want to find out more about them, you've come to the right place. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 626

Carey Beebe is probably the most traveled and best known Australian harpsichord maker. After a music degree and three performance diplomas he became more interested in harpsichord construction, and trained at the prominent American workshop of D. Jacques Way. In 1982 he was made the youngest ever International Agent for Zuckermann Harpsichords Inc, but since 1999 has been working exclusively with Marc Ducornet and THE PARIS WORKSHOP.

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 652

“As an instrument builder, I am not very sensitive to contact through Internet. For those who love to touch wood and other natural materials, to hear a sound, a voice, for those whose daily life is composed of nuances, sensitivity, and, it must be confessed, subjectivity, the screen seems cold, anonymous and even arrogant by its pretentions to bring everything to us, served at home. What is more, to try to describe our activity would be to limit it. Each instrument is a unique creation and we are continually designing new models, and engaging in projects, restaurations, repairs, or supplying instruments for major music festivals, concerts and recordings. We are also continually researching historic and new materials. .... So this site will not be exhaustive. It will, however, provide you with some simple information on our instruments, presenting you with different models and some photos. ..“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 623

"For more than a quarter century I have been making harpsichords and clavichords for individuals and institutions across North America. My instruments are entirely custom made to suit my customer's needs and desires. The designs I use are drawn from antique instruments of proven musical value; the materials I use and the methods I use to make my harpsichords are the very best I have been able to find. My harpsichords are remarkably close to the originals, especially with respect to the sound they produce and the feel of the action. I am also very concerned about the musical and functional utility of the harpsichords I make. So while they are historically accurate, they are also easy to live with. My harpsichords are entirely made by hand, right down to the tuning pins; I use no kits or kit parts. -- David Jensen " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 448

Hubbard Harpsichords specializes in crafting harpsichords. We offer a full line of custom instruments based on originals produced in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. We also offer a number of these instruments in kit form for those who enjoy the indescribable adventure of recreating an instrument of the past.

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 435

Suppliers of harpsichord or fortepiano parts.

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 464

Welcome to Zuckermann Harpsichords International, the world’s leading maker of historically-based keyboard instruments. A harpsichord is more than simply an instrument upon which one makes music; it is also a decorative object, a visual as well as an aural feast. Our superior-quality harpsichords, clavichords, spinets and virginals are closely based on the best extant antiques from the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. We seek not to copy them as much as to recreate their baroque and early-classical motifs. The results are instruments of ageless beauty and sound.

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 438

* Born in Salzburg / Austria * secondary school in Salzburg * chemical study (1st section) in Innsbruck * technical college for violin and guitar making in Hallstatt * education and final examination for organbuilding * Independent workshop for clavichord- and harpsichord building since 1990

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 465

The Harpsichord Clearing House contains the most comprehensive inventory of early keyboard instruments for sale in North America. HCH has been building and brokering since 1969, and, today, represents instruments from virtually every builder. Our Gallery, located between Boston, MA and Providence, RI houses over 45 new and used harpsichords, clavichords, fortepianos, and organs for you to play and compare.

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 417

“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.”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 337

“Over the past 30 years, Yves Beaupré harpsichords have won acclaim for the beauty of their sound and appearance, as well as for their stability and mechanical reliability.

Yves Beaupré - himself a harpsichordist - draws his inspiration from the main schools of harpsichord-making. By visiting important collections of historic instruments, including those in Antwerp, Edinburgh, Paris, and Washington, he has intensively studied representative models of these schools. He respects the traditions of his craft in his choice of materials, dimensions, and acoustic properties. He is convinced, nevertheless, that understanding and interpreting tradition results in instruments that are artistically and musically superior to slavish copies. Each Yves Beaupré harpsichord is an original.

Instruments can be expertly, tastefully, and appropriately decorated by Danièle Forget."

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 534

Margaret Hood Fortepianos recreate the colorful ringing tone and responsive lightness of touch of their famous prototypes, the fortepianos of 1803 and 1816 by the Viennese pianomaker Nannette Streicher. Instruments from our workshop are fully guaranteed against defects of workmanship and materials. They have given rewarding and reliable service in concerts and on tours with amateurs and professional musicians here and abroad. They have also been a source of hours of delight in the homes of their owners. Your satisfaction is our greatest pleasure. We have been making and servicing reproduction Viennese fortepianos since 1976. Our instruments are owned by colleges, universities and professional musicians in Canada and the Eastern United States, and have been rented for performance by symphony orchestras, city opera companies, university and community orchestras and music festivals. We have one or two finished instruments to see and play at the Boston Early Music Festival and other regional early music festivals every year. Please contact us to arrange to see and try one at one of these places or at our shop in Wisconsin.

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 374

More About The Maker My first encounter with the harpsichord occurred when I was 16. Landowska playing a Handel suite was like hitting me over the head with a brick! The result was my going to London at my first opportunity to the Victoria and Albert museum to look at a harpsichord. I received permission to measure both the harpsichord and a clavichord. I concluded that although a harpsichord was beyond me, a clavichord was not. So I went home and made one! From that point on, until I sold my first harpsichord in Guernsey in 1965, I spent all my spare time haunting the established English makers; Goble, Feldberg, Dolmetsch, Thomas Goff, Hugh Gough, and above all, Michael Thomas, from whom I learned the secrets of a good soundboard. Luckily for me I was a natural when came to woodworking, and in no time at all I could cut dovetails by hand that fit perfectly! I moved to Claremont, Virginia in 1973 with Katie my wife, and since that time, we have made more than 50 instruments together, whilst raising a couple of kids, my total now being more than 70 instruments since I began. For some years I was the Musical Instrument Conservator to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, leaving in 1988 to pursue making my own instruments full time. During that time I had the privilege of working with many antique instruments, including a magnificent 1762 Jacob Kirckman double manual harpsichord. ...

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 339

Welcome to my web site. Yes, I'm the author of The Harpsichord Owner's Guide, but I've done more than just write HOG. Let me tell you a little about myself. I'm a musicologist, retired from the University of Iowa in 1992. I'm still actively engaged in scholarship and just completed a book on the history of the harpsichord (released in May, 2003). That instrument has been the object of my scholarly attention for more that 25 years. I've written a number of articles and reviews on it, and presented papers on early keyboard matters at many scholarly conferences. For almost 15 years I was involved in acoustical research on the harpsichord, and have done articles and presentations on that topic, too. I've written six books, three of which deal with the harpsichord. And of course, as an agent of Zuckermann Harpsichords International, I build harpsichords, too. ...

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 433

I have been making and restoring keyboard instruments in my own shop since 1977. During this time, I have restored instruments for regional and state museums and private customers. This has allowed me first-hand access to original instruments over a long period of time, and given me the opportunity to learn from them. This process has shaped my working habits and benefited my own instruments. Except for those listed as such, the instruments from my shop are not copies. They are based on research and restoration of several old instruments. Important details such as key ratio and dip or jack weight are, however, faithfully reproduced in the light of the historic traditions. Each instrument is made entirely of solid wood using only hot (hide) glue. ...

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 497

"We have been custom-building fine early keyboard instruments such as harpsichords, clavichords, virginals, spinets, and fortepianos since 1968. Please browse our extensive line of custom made finished instruments and instrument kits that you can assemble yourself.

We also provide instrument finishing such as soundboard and case paintings, gilding, and original artwork as specified by the customer. Other services to address your early keyboard needs include restringing, requilling, voicing, and instrument rentals.

Let us help you to discover the fulfillment of owning a beautifully made classical harpsichord, clavichord, virginal, spinet or fortepiano. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 502

“In addition to my regular building and restoration, I also offer a variety of services regarding the stringing of historical pianos, both originals and copies. These include the interpretation of existing gauge marks, the devising of entirely new stringing schedules when no marks are present and the design and fabrication of wound bass strings of all types and materials, both open and closed wrapped. I rely upon a combination of evidence drawn from original instruments, information gleaned from original piano making manuals of the 19th century, and a sophisticated computerized analysis technique. Surviving strings are faithfully copied in wrapping form and hitchpin loop. Bass core wires are always pre-stretched before wrapping until they stabilize at 80% rupture load in order to assure rapid stability of pitch once mounted and prevent in-situ stretching which can create loose wraps. Modern steel core stock is never used, and every attempt is made to find the best possible solution from among the various available “historical” wire types.“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 416

"PETER BAVINGTON was born in 1941 and educated in London and Exeter. After working for many years as a Civil Servant, he decided in 1982 on a complete change of career and enrolled at the London College of Furniture (now London Metropolitan University), where he studied early keyboard instruments under Lewis Jones. In 1985 he obtained his Higher National Diploma in Musical Instrument Technology with distinction in every unit.

He then spent two years working with John Rawson before founding his own London workshop, making and restoring harpsichords, clavichords and fortepianos. In addition to individual musicians, his customers have included the Royal Academy of Music, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Hochschule der Künste Berlin. As well as making instruments, Peter undertakes historical and acoustic research, and is a regular participant in international organological conferences. He is a founder member and past Chairman of the British Clavichord Society.

Recently, Peter has focussed mainly on the clavichord; he believes that to produce a really responsive clavichord is the supreme challenge for a keyboard instrument maker. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 304

At Michael Johnson Harpsichords we create instruments that suit all periods. Superb craftsmanship has made our instruments renowned for their reliability and stability. They are hand-crafted from air-dried timbers, using the same traditional methods as makers in the 16th, 17th and 18th Centuries. We build harpsichords that the finest musicians and academies throughout the world choose for solo, continuo and orchestral work. ...

Also supplier of PEEK monofilament for boar’s hair spring substitute.

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 377

Steven Sørli -- "Sorli Harpsichords are designed to provide a genuine experience of early keyboard music. Inspired by antiques, all models are constructed using a combination of intuition and ingenuity to ensure the utmost in musical expression. Outstanding qualities of the Sorli sound include incisive clarity, richness, unified balance, pronounced attack, dynamic projection and musical versatility. The action is crisp and solid providing a secure sense of control.

Steven Sorli creates each instrument individually as a work of art. His aesthetic abilities contribute to a tasteful blend of color and form which add a complementary balance to the tonal shades. The diverse textures adorning his harpsichords are reminiscent of those executed by the masters of old. Mr. Sorli has been the recipient of a craftsman's fellowship grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 433

This site contains a list of harpsichords, spinets, virginals, clavichords and pianofortes that are for sale throughout the whole world.

Added on: Jun 22, 2005 | Hits: 803

I have been building clavichords and harpsichords since 1977. Using traditional materials and methods, I am known for instruments of rich character and 'color,' and for attention to details of touch and reliability. I work alone, which allows me to focus all my energy and passion o­n each instrument.

It is very important, I believe, that I am a player myself. All of my instruments receive a proper playing-in, and I expect them to satisfy my own demands as a player before I send them out into the world.

I have built instruments for the Indiana University Early Music Institute, Reed College, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Brigham Young University, Southwest Oregon Community College, the University of Oregon, Willamette University, Central Washington University and Boston University. My private clients value their privacy, and I respect it. But I will be happy to refer serious inquiries to them for an independent view of my work, as well as of my timeliness and general business practices ...

Added on: Jul 04, 2005 | Hits: 405

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: 374

"I've worked with Kevin Fryer since 1999, and together with the client we enjoy creating an overall visual scheme designed to compliment, but not compete with the instrument itself. I've applied the same sensitivity to the integrity of tonal and visual qualities in a number of highly successful collaborations with other instrument makers. " ...

Added on: Oct 29, 2005 | Hits: 1819

Copies of the best and finest keyboard musical instruments existing in european and american museums

Added on: Mar 16, 2007 | Hits: 420