This harpsichord, built in Antwerp in 1617 was extended in the eighteenth century to give a classic French compass of 61 notes. It was restored by François Étienne Blanchet, ‘facteur des clavessins du roi’ (the king's harpsichord maker') to Louis XV in 1750. Its coat of vernis Martin was decorated by Christophe Huet (1694-1759) while the scenes of godesses and putti were added, it is currently thought, in the studio of Francois Boucher, the great French Rococo painter (1703-1770). In 1760 the upper register was extended to give a compass of F1 to f3 and in 1786 Nicolas Hoffmann 'modernised' the instrument giving it a rarely found peau-de-bufle register.

It has recently undergone a major restoration by Dr. Grant O'Brien, former curator of the Russell Collection Collection of Early Keyboard Instruments, Edinburgh and author, among many publications, of 'Ruckers - A Harpsichord and Virginal Building Tradition'

The inside lid painting is currently attributed to Jean-Baptiste Le Prince, a pupil of Boucher, in 1750.

Played at a private recital by David McGuinness
www.davidmcguinness.com

00:00 Claude-Benigne Balbastre, La d'hériourt, 2x8", 1x8'
05:33 Jaques Duphly, Rondeau, peau de buffle register
08:34 Domenico Scarlatti, Sonata in E, Kk. 264, 2x8', 1x4'
14:55 J S Bach, Prelude in C, BWV 846/1 Single lower manual 8'
17:16 Credits

свернуть