music instrument news
My dad got a new harpsichord last week. It's a beast.
The new harpsichord is a Neupert double with 4', two 8', and 16' strings. I had never seen a harpsichord with 16' strings before, much less one with four sets of strings. It came from Oregon, so the tuning is still settling for a few weeks (unfortunately the whole thing is about a half-step low from an A440 tuning). The thing puts out a monster amount of sound, with some interesting timbral possibilities. For example, the high end of the 16' strings is very flute-like.
My dad's other harpsichord is on loan to Ruth, who used it in a concert of Baroque music last night at LCU. (It's a Wittmayer single with 4' and 8' strings.) It worked really well in the Baroque ensemble. Last night was the first time I heard it with its lid completely removed as well, and I was pleasantly surprised to hear that it puts out quite a bit of sound without the aid of the lid to direct it.
Anyway, all this recent harpsichordy goodness has got me in the mood for some ensemble playing. Does anyone want to put together a group to play some Baroque music just for fun? Harpsichord + violin + viola + cello + bass is what I'm thinking.
Holler.
The new harpsichord is a Neupert double with 4', two 8', and 16' strings. I had never seen a harpsichord with 16' strings before, much less one with four sets of strings. It came from Oregon, so the tuning is still settling for a few weeks (unfortunately the whole thing is about a half-step low from an A440 tuning). The thing puts out a monster amount of sound, with some interesting timbral possibilities. For example, the high end of the 16' strings is very flute-like.
My dad's other harpsichord is on loan to Ruth, who used it in a concert of Baroque music last night at LCU. (It's a Wittmayer single with 4' and 8' strings.) It worked really well in the Baroque ensemble. Last night was the first time I heard it with its lid completely removed as well, and I was pleasantly surprised to hear that it puts out quite a bit of sound without the aid of the lid to direct it.
Anyway, all this recent harpsichordy goodness has got me in the mood for some ensemble playing. Does anyone want to put together a group to play some Baroque music just for fun? Harpsichord + violin + viola + cello + bass is what I'm thinking.
Holler.