The Unreasonable Harpsichord
My harpsichord, a Zuckermann single-manual Flemish IV, is finally here and has been given a very rough initial tuning. A total of 6 strings need to be replaced, luckily, all are in the bass region so it’s still quite playable. It looks very much like the following.
Zuckermann single-manual Flemish IV
“The sound of a harpsichord – two skeletons copulating on a tin roof in a thunderstorm”.
Sir Thomas Beecham
The piano before the piano, the harpsichord underwent a major revival in the early 20th century behind the driving force of Wanda Landowska. It underwent a second and more radical revival during the 1960s psychedelic music era, and its use in modern music has continued to grow.
“You play Bach your way, and I’ll play him his way.”
Wanda Landowska
First revival
Landowska, Bach – Italian Concerto, BWV 971
Landowska, Bach – Prelude & Fugue No. 21, BWV 866
Dressed like she was about to steal some Russian children, but she could play.
Reverberations
Iturbi, Rameau – Rigaudon, Musette and Tambourin
Jose Iturbi had tiny, tiny hands, quite unlike my own meat mitts.
For those not familiar with Glenn Gould, yes, he’s humming and rocking throughout, and no, that’s not normal. As George Szell put it, “That nut’s a genius”.
Second revival
Jimi Hendrix, Burning of the Midnight Lamp
The Zombies, I Want Her, She Wants Me
The Zombies, Imagine The Swan
The Beatles, Because
Hendrix and the Beatles both used the same wonderful Baldwin electric; I don’t know what the Zombies or Donovan used.
Today
Tori Amos, Blood Roses
A 250-year-old harpsichord live … did they cheer like that in the 1700s? Won a full scholarship to the Peabody Conservatory of Music when she was only 5; kicked out by age 11.
Emilie Autumn, Bach – Largo
A violin virtuoso and performance artist. Left the Indiana University School of Music due to disagreements over her choices in clothing and music.
Gorgeous.
Joanna Newsom, Peach Plum Pear
A very acquired taste. Appalachia meets the harpsichord.
Bjork, Scary
Bjork, Unravel
Bjork, Venus as a Boy
Bjork loves the harpsichord (and clavichord).
No one you or anyone else knows
Radio Spectacular!!!, Waltz Of The Fuzzy Peach King
Very much in the spirit of Danny Elfman.
Tags: Bach, Bjork, clavichord, Donovan, Emilie Autumn, Glenn Gould, harpsichord, IsoBel Campell, Jimi Hendrix, Joanna Newsom, Jose Iturbi, Radio Spectacular!!!, Rameau, The Beatles, The Zombies, Tori Amos, Wanda Landowska, Zuckermann
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