General Harpsichord and Clavichord Thread

[Mandryka]

Alpha Classics proudly presents "Baroque Stories", a new series of recordings devoted to young talents in early music; its first recording introduces Louise Acabo . . .

Booklet for this interesting release, which is less about  Chambonnières and more about Chambonnières'  impact in England mostly.

https://static.qobuz.com/goodies/00/000213700.pdf

[Mandryka]

Interesting because, apart from familiar music by Louis Couperin and Froberger, there is unfamiliar music. Boesset, Racquet  . . .

https://static.qobuz.com/goodies/73/000214937.pdf

Lovely instrument very well recorded, and nice music nicely played. Introspective vibe, like soliloquies. The Froberger is unusually lyrical and undramatic - he reminds me of Ludger Rémy (for me, that's all to the good.)

[Mandryka]

https://static.qobuz.com/goodies/59/000213795.pdf

This is mostly tavern music, not church music. Weird harpsichord, she writes about her choice in the booklet. It's rich in overtones.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Now, several recordings of Yoshio Watanabe are available on streaming platforms.

[milk]

I'm quite enjoying this.

[Mandryka]

I'm quite enjoying this.

So far I've only heard the some of the organ music - very good!

[Selig]

Booklet: https://eclassical.textalk.se/shop/17115/art18/5188018-9b64ed-3149020955772.pdf

I think this recording is turning me into a fan of the muselaar.

So: Who else has recorded on muselars? I only know Moroney...

[Mandryka]

So: Who else has recorded on muselars? I only know Moroney...

Elisabeth Garnier Barakova, L'Art du virginal, de la spinetta et du musellaar - it used to be on youtube. Klaprott has one - he's on YouTube discussing it etc.

What exactly is a "muselaer"? Is it the same as a muselar? I sense a rabbit hole I don't want to go down. The term came up in a discussion of mother and child instruments - this is a nice youtube dem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfC3YTNthKw

[Mandryka]

Muselaar - Mother and Child - Bull - this wonderful CD - no idea if these virginals are also muselaars.



Very good review of it on Amazon.fr

Mais qu'est-ce que ce Mr Skrzeczkowski a du souffrir à l'école primaire, quand on apprend à écrire son nom !!!

[Selig]

Muselaar - Mother and Child - Bull - this wonderful CD - no idea if these virginals are also muselaars.



Very good review of it on Amazon.fr

Mais qu'est-ce que ce Mr Skrzeczkowski a du souffrir à l'école primaire, quand on apprend à écrire son nom !!!

Oh yes - the Mother on its own has that sound I like, but playing the Child at the same time also sounds good to me!

I guess most recordings will just call them virginal(s) without specifying the type, at least on the outer packaging.

I see Belder recorded some of the Fitzwilliam pieces on muselar (there seems to be a decent chunk across volumes 6-7) so I need to explore that set more.

[Que]

As you can tell from the Vermeer on the cover and the name of the owner of the virginal book performed here, the music on this disc is from the Netherlands. Performed are adaptations of psalm settings, dances and songs. They are interspersed by flute music by Jacob van Eyk, performed by Patrick Denecker.

Note the use of a type of a typically Flemish double virginal, called "mother and child" (moeder en kind) - a smaller, higher tuned, virginal is inside the "mother" virginal and can be played separately. See also the explanation by Johan van Veen in the review quoted below. Unfortunately of this particular instrument, a copy after Ruckers, I couldn't a picture. But here is a very similar looking one: (the "child" is placed left inside the "mother")



https://www.bomharpsichords.com/en/instruments/muselar-mother-and-child

Johan van Veen tells you everything else you need to know about this recording:

http://www.musica-dei-donum.org/cd_reviews/Ricercar_RIC264.html

[Harry]

Yep a fine recording, much recommended.