Harpsichord
- Thread starter toejamfootball
- Start date
Exactly, NEB ... eventually I just resorted to doing 'touch up' on a few notes when they got really sour.
The other thing that didn't help the situation much either that the only place these two 'fragile' instruments could be situated were in the store window display which as luck would have it, faced West ... :crazy: ... but, I had no say in that decision.
The other thing that didn't help the situation much either that the only place these two 'fragile' instruments could be situated were in the store window display which as luck would have it, faced West ... :crazy: ... but, I had no say in that decision.
I wished the 'window dressing' could have looked that good, NEB. The 'window stage' was a simple 6" raised platform with really tacky looking red carpet that was torn in a few places (this was a really low budget kind of music store), and the outer edges of the windows were trimmed with these 1970's look of flashing lights - the ones that appear to be "chasing" in a sequential pattern - it really looked terrible.
Fortunately, I was in Institutional Sales (church organs) for that store and only had to spend 3 hours one evening a week on the sales floor which was spent trying to convince somebody to buy an organ or piano you know they didn't want in the first place
.
Fortunately, I was in Institutional Sales (church organs) for that store and only had to spend 3 hours one evening a week on the sales floor which was spent trying to convince somebody to buy an organ or piano you know they didn't want in the first place
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chromaticism
New member
I think it would be safe to assume that most baroque chamber music had the harpsichord as a continuo instrument. I would agree with most that Couperin had wonderful harpsichord compositions plus I think nobody can get away from this topic without even thinking of Bach (Brandenburg Concerto No. 4, Well-Tempered Clavier). I also remember being dazzled by Antonio Soler's Fandango as a solo harpsichord piece.
Contratrombone64
Admiral of Fugues
There is just so much more (and often better) harpsichord music than mentioned here ... just pick up a CD of Gustav Leonhardt (spelling?), for example. The mid-Baroque is a rich field of harpsichord music. All the composers from that era are practically unknown to me, a fine harpsichordist (played with the Australian Chamber Orchestra) put me onto Gustav's interpretations. He's just so devoted, so deep, so insightful.
Soubasse
New member
I'll second Leonhardt - a beautiful player. My harpsichord teacher said he had difficulty recommending anyone else when it came to sourcing recordings.
Tuning? yes, well, I sometimes feel that I spent more time tuning the harpsichord than I did playing it!
Definitely get into some Rameau as well if you can manage it. I've compared up to six recordings of the popular "Gavotte and Variations" and believe it or not, my favourite is still Francis Monkman's performance on the Sky 2 album!
Tuning? yes, well, I sometimes feel that I spent more time tuning the harpsichord than I did playing it!
Definitely get into some Rameau as well if you can manage it. I've compared up to six recordings of the popular "Gavotte and Variations" and believe it or not, my favourite is still Francis Monkman's performance on the Sky 2 album!