Harpsichords are known from the 15th to 18th century. They were used as solo instrument and also in orchestras. Today historic harpsichords are absolutely rare and only a few survived. Find here a fine selection...
This small harpsichord represents an absolute rarity, since so far nothing comparable exists. It is a children's harpsichord, which was made in Italy around 1650. The case is covered with fine cloth and decorated on the outside and inside with fine paintings. All around are ro...
moreThis early spinet is one of the rarest surviving instruments made by Stephan Keene. The case is made in walnut with the original brass work and it rests on the original stand. Furthermore the jacks are all original. The nameboard is exceptionally fine with inlaid decorative panel...
moreThe Iberian Peninsula, rich in cultural diversity and musical tradition, has produced a unique soundscape over the centuries. Among the many musical treasures of this region, the harpsichord stands out as a rare and fascinating instrument. The history of harpsichords on the Iberi...
moreThis charming spinet was made around 1720 by the renowned harpsichord maker Thomas Barton in London. The case and the original stand are made of walnut and the keyboard is made of ivory and ebony. This instrument with its typical English bentside shape was very popular in the...
morePre-war harpsichords are becoming increasingly important in music history. The Great World Exhibition in Paris in 1889 can be seen as the central point in the rediscovery of the harpsichord after it had been forgotten for almost 100 years. This rediscovery inspired interpreters,...
moreThe harpsichord underwent a revival in the 20th century. In the 1920s in particular, some musicians and musicologists began to rediscover the harpsichord – after all, in the late 19th century it had long been considered antiquated and unfashionable. It was recognized that the h...
moreIn the 1920s, interest in Baroque and Renaissance music was revived in Europe, leading to a growing interest in period instruments. At the same time, however, there was a limited number of original instruments available, which created a need for replicas and new instruments. The...
moreKurt Wittmayer, Neupert and Sperrhake were the most active and successful harpsichord makers of the post-war period. Due to their new instruments, the harpsichord experienced a large-scale rediscovery in Europe in the period after 1945. This instrument presented here was built in...
moreThe development of the harpsichord in the 20th century was marked by a renewed interest in historical instruments and their music. The harpsichord enjoyed a renaissance in the 20th century after being pushed into the background in favour of the modern piano in the 19th century. I...
moreThis two-manual harpsichord by Martin Sassmann is a reference of the modern harpsichord construction in Germany in the 1960s. Since the revival of this type of instrument at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, instruments were increasingly being built that were...
moreThe harpsichords made by William de Blaise are particularly interesting in the development of the modern harpsichord construction. In addition to major German manufactories such as Neupert, Ammer or Sperrhake this instrument shows the typical “Rastenbauweise” (industrial/seri...
moreThis small one-manual harpsichord by Neupert from Bamberg shows the further development of the modern Rastenbauweise (industrial/serial construction). The case is made from walnut and has a square wing shape with an open soundboard. The instrument has 2 sets of jacks and has t...
moreThe virginal is a keyboard instrument that was widely used in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. It belongs to the family of keyboard instruments and is closely related to the spinet and the harpsichord. The virginal has a very clear, percussive sound and was especially popul...
moreSome instrument makers tried to improve the rediscovered harpsichord in 20th century to create new sounds. The modern piano construction was used as a model for this instrument, and so this little harpsichord is a peculiarity in the further development of the harpsichord. The...
moreDuring the 20th century, the harpsichord experienced an interesting renaissance and re-evaluation. Although the harpsichord had its heyday in the Baroque period and then fell into the background due to the emergence of the piano, some composers and performers took a liking to thi...
moreThis single-manual harpsichord, based on Italian instruments, comes from the Wolfgang Zuckermann workshop and was built from a kit by a professional harpsichord builder in Berlin. The case is made of cedar wood with surrounding frames and fillings and decorative brass hinges....
moreVirginals were mostly used from the 16th to the 18th century, especially in Italy, England and the Netherlands and enjoyed great popularity. There are early paintings of women at the virginal. One of the earliest portraits is of Catharina van Hemessen (1527/28 – 1583) at a virg...
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