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The original instrument belongs to the Royal College of Music, London; copies follow this instrument faithfully, while benefiting from further information which I have gathered from the Trasuntino harpsichord in the Musée des Instruments, Brussels.
Commissions for this instrument include one with the original compass of C to f''', with 8' and 4', and one with the later compass of GG to c''', with 2 x 8'. This will be a rare opportunity to compare the typical original and later states of the same instrument.
Please let us know if you would like any further information on these instruments, and would like to hear about forthcoming recordings.
Specification:
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CASE |
cypress, with rich mouldings. |
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SOUNDBOARD |
cypress; bridges and nuts also of cypress. |
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ROSES |
parchment, set in turned wooden rings. The original instrument has three roses.
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KEYS |
walnut or beech; naturals of bone or boxwood; sharps of ebony. |
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JACKS |
of walnut, with holly tongues and brass leaf-springs. |
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DISPOSITION |
the instrument can be made either with the original disposition of 1 x 8', 1 x 4', or with the 2 x 8' disposition which it was given in 1693. |
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PITCH |
is very much open to discussion. With the original disposition, the pitch is best between A370 and A392; the later version of the instrument is best between A400 and A415. |
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COMPASS |
originally C/E short octave to f'''; the later compass is GG/BB short octave to c'''. |
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DIMENSIONS
(all including mouldings) |
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length |
2265mm (89.2") |
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width |
798mm (31.4") |
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height |
height 193mm (7.6") |
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A recording of these instruments is available; please see CD Recordings
