General Harpsichord and Clavichord Thread

[Mandryka]

The used instrument is probably equally tuned, and this changes in his opinion the expressive potential too much.

Sure but he seems to be making a general claim about the limits of piano tuning.

[prémont]

Sure but he seems to be making a general claim about the limits of piano tuning.

I thought he meant, that the equal tuning is the central issue.

Maybe he means that a modern piano, even if it is meantone tempered, cannot do this music justice. The piano's relative lack of partials may change the way we perceive the harmonies in meantone in an unfavorable way.

BTW I have never heard - or heard of - a meantone tempered piano. He should have heard one to be able to say so. Of course it is possible to tune a piano in this way - and in every other thinkable way.

[bioluminescentsquid]

I thought he meant, that the equal tuning is the central issue.

Maybe he means that a modern piano, even if it is meantone tempered, cannot do this music justice. The piano's relative lack of partials may change the way we perceive the harmonies in meantone in an unfavorable way.

BTW I have never heard - or heard of - a meantone tempered piano. He should have heard one to be able to say so. Of course it is possible to tune a piano in this way - and in every other thinkable way.

There's a video with pianos played in different temperaments, but the difference isn't as obvious as that we find on harpsichord.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBt6APk21tU

I think the gripe was also just with the eq-tuned piano.

[Mandryka]

The harpsichord  . . .sacrificed . . . the touch sensitivity . . . of the clavichord. 

Apart from vibrato, can someone who plays these things say whether this is true?

[bioluminescentsquid]

Yes, Gluxam sounds elaborate if subtle .

Found: the naughty side of Gluxam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RTyePBLECE

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Found: the naughty side of Gluxam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RTyePBLECE

Solid performance on the unknown song. Impressive.

[Mandryka]

These pieces are all 17th century and anonymous, all very good music in a sort of Georg Böhm / Buxtehude style. Beautifully played by Lydia Maria Blank, who is as good here as she was in her Trabaci recording. Well worth hearing.

[Mandryka]

Very amusing story about the discovery of the Louis Denis 1653 here

http://www.la-vouivre.ch/hanneton/pdf/historique.pdf

It is an amazing harpsichord. I'm really enjoying the recording using it by Giulia Nuti, she plays a Bauyn Manuscript selection. Apart from her, there are recordings by Rousset (LC), Jovanka Marville, (LC, Frob.), Erdas (D'Ang.) but I think that Nuti is the most successfully recorded, and in fact the best at making it sing, and at actualising  its colour potential.  Shame that Asperen has never recorded anything with it.

It's tempting to speculate that both Louis Couperin and Froberger knew it, maybe they played it together.

[Turner]

Am no specialist regarding harpsichord recordings, but I´d be interesting in seeing what people´s say selected 3 or 5 or 10 harpsichord music recordings in general would be, for reasons of repertoire, instruments, musical schools etc.

Of course some explaining would be great too, but not obligatory.

Feel free to do so here, if in the mood for it some time. Am currently thinking about which ones to choose myself ...

[milk]

Am no specialist regarding harpsichord recordings, but I´d be interesting in seeing what people´s say selected 3 or 5 or 10 harpsichord music recordings in general would be, for reasons of repertoire, instruments, musical schools etc.

Of course some explaining would be great too, but not obligatory.

Feel free to do so here, if in the mood for it some time. Am currently thinking about which ones to choose myself ...

It's a bit easier to do if I exclude Bach. For example, Skip Sempe's recording of Louis Couperin is a favorite of mine. There are some great recordings of Froberger, for example by Varotolo or Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra. Verlet's recording of Francois Couperin...Tilney's Frescobaldi...But this is excluding Bach who would probably take up all my slots. Oh, for the sound of a great harpsichord vis a vis Bach, Van Asperen's French Suit is unique. Otherwise the Well Tempered Clavier would get more than one place via various recordings. 

[Jo498]

A bit short but very beautiful sounding instruments:
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People more familiar with the music were not too fond of the Boehm etc. pieces but I'd still recommend it for the sound of the instrument, alternatively Rampe's Handel disc on a similar instrument:

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I have to think a little more about other favourites. Two I hesitate to mention because they are on 60s "revival" harpsichords, not on authentic ones are Anton Heiller's Rameau and Couperin Recitals (Vanguard), they are extremely entertaining, though.

[Mandryka]

Interesting music on this CD, very sympathetically executed by Arpo Hakkinen. De Macque may be relatively well known, but I was surprised to find that Ferdinand de Medici wrote some fine things, and Hakkinen even makes the Martini Sonata sound wonderful. De Nebra is a composer I've never heard of before, the pastorela is elegant and diverting in Hakkinen's hands.  I'm glad to have this CD.

[Draško]

Is anyone maybe familiar with this recording?

I've seen it at a flea market. It had a small scratch and I passed it. But if it is really good I probably could pick it up tomorrow.

[North Star]

Is anyone maybe familiar with this recording?

I've seen it at a flea market. It had a small scratch and I passed it. But if it is really good I probably could pick it up tomorrow.

It's on Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/v/P_L17pebwKk

[Draško]

But of course, everything is on youtube these days, I hadn't checked. Thank you!

[Mandryka]

There's a review of this on Amazon.fr which I thought was quite inspiring and which is prompting me to re-evaluate Karen Flint's art

En finir avec le culte des 'virtuoses" et des "interprétations de référence" pour cheminer à l'ombre des mains amoureuses qui tissent l'étoffe d'une musique dont l'essence est la retenue, la discrétion, la remise. Mme flint sait parfaitement qu'elle ne figurera jamais dans les palmarès des virtuoses, c'est à dire ceux dont la 'patte' les fait reconnaître, mais c'est bien cela qui la qualifie plus que jamais elle et de nombreux autres pour jouer ce clavecin français du XVII siècle dont l'esprit est a l'antipode de toute virtuosité, c'est d'ailleurs ne rien comprendre à Chambonnieres que de prendre au premier degré ce qu'en disent Mersenne et consort sur son 'toucher' et de vouloir en faire une virtuose. Certains prennent leur clavecin pour des voitures de courses et il enchainent les prouesses au carburant de leurs analyses musicologiques mais que n'ont ils composés si il avaient tant à dire? MMe Flint et Elizabeth Jaquet de la guerre nous épargnent tout cela, l'Abbé de la pure nous apprend que l'art suprême c'est peut -être celui de la conversation, il conviendrait surement de considérer la musique comme un lieu et un moment de conversation. L'écoute c'est à la fois: entendre avec l'ensemble de son corps-être l'unité factuelle d'un compositeur et son interprète, et 'parler-répondre" avec et par notre attention. Ce n'est pas écouter que mettre son attention entre la partition et les mains du claveciniste, écouter c'est s'abandonner a devenir "le clavecin" et la musique devient alors la forme de notre âme. Mme Flint qui est delivrée de la malédiction d'être une virtuose et un "blockbuster" du clavecin, elle est généreuse dans son jeu et dans ses actes, elle est poétesse, elle nous donne a prendre part à l'humaine conversation qui brillait encore aux allées du grand siècle.

Anyway I've been interested to explore another approach to Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre, up to now I only know Blandine Verlet's (excellent) recording. And I'm finally getting something out of Karen Flint's Lebègue, to use the terms of the above review,  I'm trying to abandon myself and actually become Karen's harpsichord, and hence to allow the music to become the form of my soul. Her Louis Couperin continues to defeat me, but I'm not going to abandon it just yet. 

Jacquet de la Guerre's harpsichord music is very good I'd say. She must be one of the most underrated baroque composers.

[Mandryka]

Is anyone maybe familiar with this recording?

I've seen it at a flea market. It had a small scratch and I passed it. But if it is really good I probably could pick it up tomorrow.

I only know this harpsichordist through her excellent D'Andrieu.

[Marc]

I only know this harpsichordist through her excellent D'Andrieu.

Maybe this one (Louis Couperin) is somewhere to be found on the world wide web, too.

[prémont]

I only know this harpsichordist through her excellent D'Andrieu.

Surprise, it was you who drew my attention to her Louis Couperin CD a couple of years ago.

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,1729.msg970798.html#msg970798

[Mandryka]

Surprise, it was you who drew my attention to her Louis Couperin CD a couple of years ago.

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,1729.msg970798.html#msg970798

Yes I know, it was my first senior moment.