The sound of Historical Instruments - PART 2: English Harpsichord(s), Virginal and Spinet

[@musicalintentions]

These instruments create beautiful sounds. The tone quality is so rich, and you play wonderfully. Thank you for sharing this!

[@theclavierist]

Thank you for watching the video and for your kind words :-)

[@musicalintentions]

@@theclavierist You're welcome. I look forward to more videos in the future!

[@InMaLa]

Glad you got the permissions. The Shudi-Broadwood and Dolmetsch are very sweet too

[@theclavierist]

Yes, they are all quite special. I particularly like the virginal and the spinet featured in this video.

[@lemonemmi]

Very interesting! Thank you! Old instruments are works of art on their own right.

[@theclavierist]

They are definitely works of art with a lot of character!

[@RalphLooij]

A very fine collection of keyboard instruments. Must have been wonderful to play on them.

[@theclavierist]

It was like seeing old friends after a long time! When I lived in London I used to play them regularly, especially the Kirckman and the Spinet. I can say that these guys taught me how to approach plucked keyboard instruments, if I got it too wrong they would say no and not speak. It was a good catch up with them after almost three years!

[@icroft3085]

Thanks Yuri. Close of a Spring day in Australia and lovely to hear and see you at work. The nuances of sound and tone are a gift. Thanks for sharing.

[@wolkowy1]

Thanks for sharing with us this wonderful experience. The sound of the 18 century instrument is wonderful!

[@OfficialWorldChampion]

3:50 i think i’ve seen pictures of this virginal or ones like it. Really cool you got to play it

[@theclavierist]

There are not many left of that kind, meaning original English virginals. I have another short recording on it kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5XShGiDprOAisk

[@OfficialWorldChampion]

@@theclavierist Yeah, I was made aware of the situation with the original english virginals by a present-day harpsichord maker. According to him the earliest surviving english virginal is from 1570 by someone named Theeweus who was originally from Flanders but relocated to England- I don’t know if it’s still playable, but if it is you should get your hands on it!

[@theclavierist]

@@OfficialWorldChampion it must be the one in Edinburgh collections.ed.ac.uk/stcecilias/record/96086 it doesn't look playable..

[@philipbay1548]

8:10 "we will never find out" Until we have a time machine or a chronovisor

[@theclavierist]

That is very true!

[@LesserMoffHootkins]

If we get a time machine we will already have found out.

[@pajarosaenz]

you must be Yuri! The Clavierist himself

[@theclavierist]

🦚

[@sirwholland7]

Love the spinet.

[@theclavierist]

The sound of that spinet is exceptional!

[@julesmarwell8023]

Australia thanks you for reminding us of our European Culture.

[@theclavierist]

You are very welcome!

[@michaelburling]

I once had the weirdest ghostly experience in that room with the virginals!

[@theclavierist]

What happened? 👻

[@michaelburling]

@@theclavierist Well, I visited the house with a friend of mine one autumnal afternoon - we were the only people inside except for the lady guide on duty at the front door. We visited all the rooms, then made our way to the attic. As we were in the room with those virginals, our backs were turned to the door - we were looking at the southern German anonymous harpsichord. We heard footsteps and turning, we saw an indistinct figure go past the door. When we finally went back downstairs to the exit, we said to the lady that we enjoyed the visit, especially as we were the only ones there apart from the other person who had joined us a bit later. She looked puzzled and said that nobody else had come in since our arrival! There's definitely some sort of presence in that attic!

[@theclavierist]

@@michaelburling Very interesting! Thank you for sharing the story! I've heard from other people about such presence, although I have never experienced anything myself in the many hours spent in that attic.

[@michaelburling]

@@theclavierist Very interesting that I'm not the only one. Obviously your playing soothes that spirit!

[@theclavierist]

@@michaelburling I have the feeling that it could be because I always play some music by English composers.

[@sophiamoe9286]

The virginal would serve as the alto role, along with the spinet / half-size as tenor and the full-size harpsichord as bass in a harpsichord consort!!!!

[@theclavierist]

It would indeed be an interesting consort :-)

[@sophiamoe9286]

@@theclavierist ok

[@jimbo2629]

Bach’s first prelude. The foundation of all music.

[@pellewestlin8914]

Can’t seem to find any recordings of the Purcell C major, do you know the Z-number? Thanks for the video!!

[@theclavierist]

As far as I know, a part from my recording of this prelude on clavichord kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6Ooq5Wojs2NprM , harpsichord kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6KyopuCfMiUapo and the virginals here, there is only one other recording on the harpsichord that I came across before on youtube. I am not sure that this prelude has been edited and published widely. It comes from a manuscript and it has probably circulated in 'unofficial' modern notation copies like the one I found. I don't think it has a Z number.

[@pellewestlin8914]

Thank you@@theclavieristand beautiful recordings! No, that's what I expected. I will look for the sheet music, would like to play it myself! Take care! P

[@theclavierist]

@@pellewestlin8914 drop me a line at [e-mail] and I can send it to you, otherwise you might be searching for some decades to come :-)

[@sophiamoe9286]

What is a half size harpsichord?

[@theclavierist]

Never heard of a 'half-size' harpsichord. There are harpsichords of various sizes, one or two manuals (odd one with three..). Then you've got virginals of different shapes, spinets (English bentside) or in Italian 'Spinetta' is usually a form of virginals. Then 'ottavinos' or 'ottavino spinets' which are very small. There are historical 'folding harpsichords' for travelling. There might be other oddities around :-) but never specifically heard of a 'half-size harpsichord'. The term might have been used in a specific context to mean or explain something specific?

[@sophiamoe9286]

@@theclavierist so just a small harpsichord?

[@theclavierist]

@@sophiamoe9286 possibly

[@sophiamoe9286]

@@theclavierist Yes! A small size harpsichord at 8'

[@sophiamoe9286]

@@theclavierist Definitely!!!