Articles Index

French Harpsichord History

French harpsichords were highly inspired by the Flemish design, the Ruckers’ design in particular. The most influential French builders were the Blanchets (late 1600s – mid-1800s) and Pascal Taskin (17C), whose harpsichords are still viewed today as ideal templates by modern instrument makers. The majority of improvements made by the French dealt with the manuals and registers; learn more about the French tradition of harpsichord-building, and what is known as "ravalement."

Profile of the Hurdy-Gurdy

Hurdy-gurdies are related to one of the first keyboarded chordophones: the organistrum. Popular as a folk instrument, the hurdy-gurdy comes in many varieties, namely the French "vielle à roue," the German "Drehleier," and the Hungarian "tekerőlant." Learn the history of the hurdy-gurdy; hear it in action, and learn the modifications that led to the modern varieties of the instrument.

Organistrum: The First Hurdy-Gurdy

The organistrum is among the first stringed keyboard instruments, and can be traced back to 10C Spain. A predecessor to the hurdy-gurdy, the organistrum was originally too big to be played by one musician; a keyboardist worked the melody, while an assistant cranked its rosined wheel. Another early 'flaw' was that its keys were pulled upward or turned -- not depressed -- and were located on the top of the instrument's neck. This changed around the Renaissance, when mono organistrums appeared.

Italian Harpsichord History

The Italian style of harpsichord building was among the earliest. One of the oldest surviving harpsichords in the world dates back to 1521, and is credited to Bolognese builder Hieronymus Bononiensis. But, because the early history of the harpsichord remains vague, it’s not known for certain whether Italian harpsichords were indeed the first. One could argue that the simplicity of the Italian design is suggestive of its early roots; learn more about the history of the Italian clavicembalo.

German Harpsichord History

Germany as we know it today didn't exist during the harpsichord's heyday -- the Baroque era -- so the German tradition of harpsichord-building was more or less split into two schools: the north and the south. Northern German builders, namely H.A. Hass and Christian Zell, built their instruments in the French and Flemish styles. These harpsichords had two, sometimes three manuals, and sometimes had 2' or 16' choirs; learn more about the German tradition of harpsichord building.

Profile of Oscar Peterson

Oscar Peterson is hailed as Canada’s first jazz legend. Learn how he rose to worldwide fame as one of the greatest pianists of all time -- Read the bio and profile of Québec jazz master Oscar Peterson.