Flemish Single-Manual Harpsichord After Ruckers

The members of the Ruckers family of Antwerp dominated harpsichord making North of the Alps for the first 50 years of the 17th century. They produced virginals in a variety of forms and sizes, but their single and double-manual harpsichords were the most prized. By the end of the 17th century their singles, with only a 1x8', 1x4' disposition and a 45-note (four-octave) short- octave keyboard, seemed hopelessly inadequate. But the instruments were far too valuable to discard, so in a process called ravalement, they were rebuilt to give them the more flexible disposition with an enlarged compass.

The Ruckers' double-manual harpsichords were originally made with their keyboards unaligned--the lower manual was a fourth lower than the upper. Later, they underwent ravalement as well, and in the process their keyboards were lined up. Our Flemish instruments have been "enlarged" to four and a half octaves with chromatic bass, giving a compass useful for most of the music written in the baroque. Since these single- and double-manual harpsichords were redecorated in current local fashion after the rebuilding process, a variety of decorative options is available, ranging from the Ruckers marbling to the French gold bands and moldings.

We will begin building a limited number of Flemish single manual harpsichords in March 2014. The harpsichords will be beautifully finished with the following specifications;

• 2x8'disposition with buff stop and stop levers in keywell
• Reverse keyboard of blackwood naturals and bone-slipped blackwood sharps with key front molding
• GG - d''' compass (56 + 1 notes) transposable A/415/A440
• Your choice of pearwood or delrin jacks professionally voiced in celcon
• Spruce soundboard with Flemish style decoration and gilded rose
• Premium grade turned oak stand, lid stick and adjustable music desk

The case decoration will consist of two historic colors (one exterior and one interior) of your choice from our color chart as well as Flemish style keywell, case rim and lid papers. Price $18,900. You can confirm your order with a 25% deposit. Please contact us directly for more information or to order your Flemish harpsichord.

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