Harpsichord
Arnold Dolmetsch is regarded as an important figure in the early movement for historically informed performance practice. Born in France, Dolmetsch studied music in Brussels and then in London. He exhibited a harpsichord at London's Arts and Crafts Exhibition of 1896. He accepted a position with Chickering & Sons piano company in Boston where he worked from 1904 until 1911 supervising the building period instruments including harpsichords, clavichords, lutes, and viols.
Technical description: Double-bentside case painted black tinted with green, gilt moldings and banding along outer and inner surfaces, interior painted red with gilt molding, trestle stand with 4 turned legs, 3 turned balusters with scroll brackets between long stretchers, 2 manuals FF-f3, ebony naturals with gilt arcades, ivory slips over stained accidental blocks, 6 pedals depress to activate (left to right) 1) remove upper 8' and engage lower 8'; 2) engage lower 8'; 3) engage 4'; 4) engage 8' buff; 5) engage upper 8' buff; 6) coupler; disposition: lowest 12 8' strings overspun, lowest 7 4' strings overspun; leadweighted jacks
Technical description: Double-bentside case painted black tinted with green, gilt moldings and banding along outer and inner surfaces, interior painted red with gilt molding, trestle stand with 4 turned legs, 3 turned balusters with scroll brackets between long stretchers, 2 manuals FF-f3, ebony naturals with gilt arcades, ivory slips over stained accidental blocks, 6 pedals depress to activate (left to right) 1) remove upper 8' and engage lower 8'; 2) engage lower 8'; 3) engage 4'; 4) engage 8' buff; 5) engage upper 8' buff; 6) coupler; disposition: lowest 12 8' strings overspun, lowest 7 4' strings overspun; leadweighted jacks
Artwork Details
- Title: Harpsichord
- Designer: Arnold Dolmetsch (French, born Le Mans, France 1858–1940 Haslemere, Surrey, England)
- Manufacturer: Chickering & Sons (American, Boston 1853–1983) , under the direction of Arnold Dolmetsch
- Date: 1909
- Geography: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Culture: American
- Medium: Wood, various materials
- Dimensions: L.: 240.1 cm (94-5/8 in.)
W.: 97.5 (38-3/8 in.)
H.: 90.2 (35-1/2 in.)
D.: 27 cm (10-5/8 in.)
Height w/o legs 31 cm
Stand: 84 cm (w); 62 cm (H) approximately 177 cm (L) - Classification: Chordophone-Zither-plucked-harpsichord
- Credit Line: Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Richard H. Dana, 1981
- Object Number: 1981.374
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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