Benjamin Alard - Clavichord Recital at Musée de Provins et du Provinois (France, 29 April, 2021)

Clavichord Recital at Musée de Provins et du Provinois (France, 29 April, 2021) - Benjamin Alard, Clavichord made by Johann Adolf Hass, Hamburg, 1763. (Collection: Musée Instrumental de Provins)
Programme
Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer: Prelude VIII and Chaconne in G Major/Sol Majeur.
Dietrich Buxtehude: Praeludium in G minor/Sol mineur BuxWV 163.
Johann Sebastian Bach: Sonate in D minor/Ré mineur BWV 964.
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: 12 Variations über die Folies d’Espagne H. 263.
Public Première on Thursday, June 10, 2021 at 11:30 am (EDT/UTC-4) | Keyboard Mini Festival Streaming on bemf.org - Boston Early Music Festival.
Video copyright: All rights reserved. Film director: Julien Cadilhac ; Camera operator: Tanguy Alanou, Nicolas Le borgne ; Sound engineer: Alban Moraud ; Tecnical resources: voir(e)même, Alban Moraud Audio, Sevel Ideas.
Clavichord information: Compass: Five octaves FF-f3 chromatic. 8ft bichord throughout with 4ft from FF-B. Brass strung throughout.
Signed on the soundboard: J.A.Haß Hambg, Anno 163
Original decoration consisting of simulated tortoiseshell with gilded Chinese fret ornament border on the lid, the interior decorated with two groups of Chinese musicians in a landscape on a scarlet ground. The key well veneered with olive wood. Recently furnished with an idiomatic stand decorated en-suite and modelled after the stand on the 1767 J.A.Hass clavichord.
Illustrated in: Musical Instruments Historic, Rare and Unique by A. J. Hipkins, Edinburgh 1888 on later unidiomatic stand.
This is a superlative example of the fully developed German bundfrei Clavichord. Made by Johann Adolf Hass, who, like his father Hieronymus Albrecht Hass, is considered among the great masters in the history of keyboard-instrument making. The making of this instrument coincides with the most productive period of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach’s writing for the clavichord.
The particular interest of this instrument is that it was the first clavichord restored and copied in modern times when it was in the possession of Arnold Dolmetsch. The instrument is inscribed under the soundboard as follows: Restored at “Dowland” West Dulwich November 1894 by {Arnold Dolmetsch and W. Nearn}. Dolmetsch made six clavichords based in part on this model between 1894 and 1897 of which the second was acquired for the Royal College of Music by Sir John Donaldson and remains in the Museum (No. RCM 211).
Musée de Provins et du Provinois: www.provins.net/decouvrir-visiter/samuser-au-musee/le-musee-de-provins-et-du-provinois/
Discography - J.S. Bach: Complete works for keyboard
Little keyboard book for Wilhelm Friedemann Bach & 6 Preludes for beginners on the keyboard have been recorded on Johann Adolf Hass's Clavichord (Hamburg, 1763). See VOLUME VI | THE WELL-TEMPERED CLAVIER, Book 1 released in March 2022 on harmonia mundi: www.benjaminalard.net/discographie/
Next concerts :
See: www.benjaminalard.net/concerts/
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[@korneelbernolet]

Un grand bravo cher Benjamin, c'est magnifique ce récital et cet instrument!

[@monsieurgrigny]

We have the impression that the music is sprinkled from Prospero's sleeve, created for our delectation and entertainment. The lute-like sweetness, the ebb and flow of the instrument a balm beyond words. Music of the highest order.

[@davidhackett7944]

What a beautiful sound! Surely this is the best clavichord I have ever heard.

[@philipkimber4403]

I agree though we shouldn`t forget that the recording is excellent. Recorded clavichords too often sound like out-of-tune pub pianos. This is a performance by someone who understands the music - and - it`s a beautiful recording.

[@sonamtenzin5757]

Privilégiés sommes-nous qui pouvons écouter un maître du temps-magicien du son. Gratitude pour ces célestes cîmes nonobstant humaines dans leur pure générosité.

[@greatpianomusic9457]

Brilliant work. Much appreciated from 🇨🇦

[@zacharybond23]

A beautiful instrument with beautiful music!

[@PooyaRadbon]

Great sound and sensible playing.

[@fitzwilliamontour]

La musique, le présentation, l'environnement - tout cela crée une atmosphère merveilleuse. Merci beaucoup

[@fredgarv79]

I don't speak french, but I understand what you said, and I agree totally. You can see, he loves this music, it is intense and the instrument is amazing. It is as if he is somehow channeling these great composers, he feels them when he is playing.

[@neilyates1102]

A very fine performance illustrating the proper finger technique for playing the clavichord from the surface of the keys: the same, approximately, as used on the harpsichord if proper tone production can be expected.

[@unagondolaunremo]

bravissimo!

[@AltbergEnsemble]

Such beautiful way of playing! Thank you!

[@antoineeliot]

Superbe!!!!

[@HarpsichordVinylGallery]

Wonderful

[@kuroineko571]

Je voulais me faire un avis sur comment sonne un Hass , sans maitre en doute la qualité de l'instrument, je doute que ce soit aisé d'en obtenir ce résultat, c'est magnifiquement bien joué. Le son est rond, profond et pas nasillard. Merci...

[@stevenpezzella7329]

Beautiful recording. What types of Microphones are you using for the audio?

[@korneelbernolet]

These are two Schoeps microphones. I guess MK4 or MK21.

[@thomasdastillung4097]

Virtuose

[@andremarcdelcourt]

🌈

[@harrilmullany2786]

The clavichord reveals all the subtle dynamics of this beautiful music - unlike the harpsichord with its mono clang tone

[@wolfie8748]

I always wondered does clavichords have weightened keys like pianos?

[@neilyates1102]

The clavichord has fairly short keys compared to the harpsichord and the brass tangents probably provide enough weight. I have completed a harpsichord from a semi-kit and did use some lead weights to assist the keys in returning quickly but I adjusted the amount for each key and used very little.

[@wolfie8748]

so it has weight but very little ? @@neilyates1102

[@DavidDuVivier]

Not perfect... but almost, and clearly among the best clavichord perfomances I've heard. Why not perfect? Simple: The clavichord is, BY FAR, the hardest keyboard instrument to play. Achieving truly singing cantabile tones and perfectly smooth phrasing is devilishly difficult on the clavichord, moreso than on a harpsichord, not to mention on a piano (where the pedal can be used to "fake it"). Bravo!

[@aaliyahjaylen5220]

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