Inside George Washington's Harpsichord

In 1793, George Washington acquired a large harpsichord for his step-granddaughter, Eleanor "Nelly" Parke Custis. For over two and a half years, John Watson, Conservator of Early Keyboard Instruments, worked to create a replica of Nelly Custis's 1793 Longman & Broderip 2-Manual Harpsichord. Dr. Joyce Lindorff, Professor of Keyboard Studies at Temple University, demonstrates what makes this unique instrument so special.
Nelly's new harpsichord can be seen in the new room of the mansion at Mount Vernon.
Learn more: www.mountverno...

[@theparrotrescuer3042]

That was very interesting...I love the sound of the harpsichord...great video..thanks

[@montemiller3447]

What a delightful instrument. Thank you for sharing.

[@wedemeyerr]

A harpsichord would never die! The sound is absolutely fantastic, bright and it is basically like a time machine! I agree with Dr Lindorff and I'm a little bit jealous!

[@skellez83]

I love all of those sounds I did not hear.

[@editedbylaurel]

Have you ever considered replicating Martha Parke Custis' English Spinet?? I find that Washington's step children are largely forgotten by the public while his step grandchildren are well known. I think something like that would help their memory live on

[@JayWC3333]

Please do a follow up with her playing please.

[@mountvernon]

Thanks, we have quite a few more videos with Dr. Lindorff, including performances!

[@juliojorgeginer2098]

Beautifully explained!

[@chrisoneillstitt]

Agree , please play so we can hear its uniqueness.

[@thomaspaine3395]

This is awesome! Thanks for sharing.

[@imperialguard28]

"How did you, Mr. Watson, get the style just right?" "Elementary, my dear Sherlock!"

[@paulmauffray]

Although I enjoyed the visual element and the spoken text, I am sure everyone here would have loved to have actually heard the instrument played. As much as I hate to criticize such a professionally and well-made video, it is simply unfathomable how anyone could have thought it was a good idea to fill it with such inappropriate background music. Please remake the audio with only that instrument playing music of the period. Thanks

[@JENDALL714]

I wonder if Washington used his Amazon Prime to get free shipping?

[@CandaceTravismusic]

How long and often do you need to tune it. Beautiful instrument.

[@mountvernon]

With the conditions inside the house, it needs to be tuned up just about every time you play it. We believe that Nelly would have been the one to do this based on expert's research. Tuning takes about 15 minutes.

[@CandaceTravismusic]

Thank you, I studied Harpsichord and found the need for tuning it so often frustrating compared to a piano, which stays I tuned much longer. Great information, thank you for your quick response.

[@EvangelistNickGarrett]

Wonderful!!!

[@tormus1]

Greetings from Australia! What a beautifully restored instrument! Are there any CDs available?

[@mountvernon]

No but stay tuned we will be releasing a playlist on Spotify at the conclusion of our Year of Music. www.mountvernon.org/plan-your-visit/tours-activities/year-of-music/

[@melgitalewisesedoniacunnin2663]

I would like to know, were there any more “copies” of this particular instrument made to be sold? I would like to purchase one JUST LIKE THIS. I live for these types of complexities in an instrument! Does the man who replicated it have a shop, maybe willing to recreate for the right price? Please let me know!!!

[@andreweden9405]

That's a harpsichord I'd feel perfectly comfortable playing Haydn or Mozart on.

[@barbaraprater2180]

WOW. This was so interesting. Thank you

[@misterchrissy]

interesting video and a unique instrument. maybe less cheesy background elevator music/easy listening, and more actual harpsichord music?

[@fnersch3367]

The piano didn't become modern until Erard (1820) & Babcock (1825) allowed the instrument to have high tension stringing. Before these dates the piano was basically a hammer harpsichord. Beethoven's last piano (Graff, 1826) was a transitional instrument. The last historic harpsichord was believed to have been built in 1809. It remained in use (continuo instrument) until the mid 19th C.

[@cherylbusch6236]

Dr. Joyce-we didn’t get to hear you play-huge disappointment. Otherwise, excellent video on all counts.

[@yuriybliznyuk1985]

GOD BLESS you. I LOVE it

[@rainday6]

I agree; how strange that one has to go elsewhere to hear her play this. That said, I also like the fact that it's a reproduction vs. the original. As a reproduction, we get to hear a sound that would more closely replicate what the Washington and Custis families heard. Too often the praise heaped on a period instrument is on the nuances of its sound today, "ignoring" the fact that the instrument has had some two centuries or more of aging and exposure that will have changed the tones markedly from what they were when built. Another example is a Stradivari violin. Playing a Vivaldi concerto on a perfect reproduction would be closer to hearing it the way Vivaldi would have heard it than on an authentic Stradivari from 1715.

[@danielwaitzman2118]

Why on earth does the producer of this video add that inane background music-background music to a video about an historic musical instrument?

[@loganfruchtman953]

Would Washington have played his famous contemporary composers like Mozart and Haydn

[@louiscouperin3731]

What’s the piece at 7:35?

[@jd3552]

I have a 1963 Doldmetsch double manual harpsichord with 6 peddles that needs restoration. Does anyone out there have a repair manual that I can buy on this instrument? - 35years clock repair person

[@toms641]

Looks like lots of Mahogany. The eastern Virginia humidity must have been brutal on this thing, keeping it tuned and such.

[@cannadineboxill-harris2983]

Hello, why couldn't you Try Remaking A Daddy Grand Piano by putting on 88 Tuning Forks like what you did on an Upright Piano, Please do the Same Thing on a Daddy Grand Piano For Most of us KZbinrs, It will be a much Better Idea For us so we can Try and See and Hear It Thank You.

[@mitchweisiger5904]

Where is the original harpsichord?

[@kevinchambers1101]

It's now housed in the new museum of Washington artifacts.

[@JLouchet]

Nothing very special with this harpsichord. Taskin was frequently using leather plectra in the 1760s. The machine stop and venetian swell were standard features on English harpsichords during the second half of the 18th Century. One such instruments by Shudi was sold at the auction of the colt Collection in June 2018, and there are plenty of them in museums and private collections.

[@philipbay1548]

Yeah, Jefferson's harpsichord had a "celestina" pedal which caused a ribbon of horse hair to rub against the strings as in a kind of mechanical violin. This is your standard English grand harpsichord

[@fnersch3367]

@@philipbay1548 This was based on Leonardo da Vinci's viola organista (1485). There is a revival of interest in these.

[@JENDALL714]

Nelly would have Rocked the Beatle's "In My LIfe" on her Harpsichord.

[@paulcaswell2813]

I still can't see how this instrument is 'unique'. It's a standard late English double with final developments of the instrument. 2x8'; 1x4', lute, buff (harp), probably a dogleg coupler, machine, and 'Venetian' swell. The standard late instrument of the Kirckmans and Broadwood. Actually it's a five octave instrument: Broadwood made a few running to 5 1/2 (CC-f'''). It's a fine instrument, but hardly 'unique'! Thanks for the upload though.

[@mercoid]

Leather plectra. It would have to be as stiff as a dog’s rawhide chew toy.

[@jasonsmith7416]

All that and she never played the instrument.

[@silentgroyper5069]

The rapper??

[@jeffreykees710]

I thought that too. Would have loved it to be so. I could so see him owning one.

[@mountvernon]

Not quite, but if you do want to learn more about our Nelly you can do so here. www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/eleanor-nelly-parke-custis/

[@philipbay1548]

Yeah, everything was great until she said "leather plectra." Leather plectra are TERRIBLE, muddy and quiet

Another luxury item bought on the backs of slavery

[@fernwehn5925]

Who cares

[@philipbay1548]

@@fernwehn5925 exactly! History is just an endless repetition of the same thing over and over again

[@philipbay1548]

Grow up