David Rubio French reproduction double-manual harpsichord
Copied from the famous 1769 Pascal Taskin harpsichord in the Russell collection in Edinburgh, this must be one of London’s most frequently heard and seen harpsichords - it goes EVERYWHERE!
With 2 x 8’ stops, a 4’ stop and buff (with a peau-de buffle stop also available if required) this fine harpsichord, made by David Rubio in 1974, has the ultimate “romantic harpsichord” sound so characteristic of the late French makers.
Taskin “cut his teeth” on the “Grand Revellement” technique which was lovingly applied to a large number of the much-prized harpsichords made in the previous century by Hans Ruckers in Antwerp, renowned for their sweet tone.
The “downside” of the Ruckers harpsichords was simply the fact that their compass was too limited to allow performance of the music of fashionable composers such as Couperin and Rameau and so, rather than part with their beloved Ruckers harpsichord, wealthy owners would pay makers such as Taskin to completely rebuild them, retaining the soundboard in the centre section but grafting on a new extended bass section. At the same time, the two keyboards, which had originally been designed with the upper keyboard transposed half an octave apart from the lower manual, to facilitate “instant transposition” up a fourth or down a fifth, for the benefit of singers whose voice was too low (or high) for the music “as written”, were realigned so that the instrument could be used for the performance of virtuoso harpsichord music writeen for two manuals (such as J. S Bach’s Goldberg Variations) and also for use in the performance of harpsichord concertos.
The proof of the value of these instruments was that a Ruckers, after undergoing a “Grand Ravellement” would actually be worth more than any newly-manufactured instrument.
This instrument is available for short to medium term hire, including delivery and collection and concert tuning and standby. Please contact us for a quotation.
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