Original : Harding Museum, Chcago ILL, USA
Description
Keyboards: two recessed, non-reversed manuals, L removable, R fixed
Compass: 4 octaves C-c3
Pitch: A392Hz non transposing
Tuning: Equal tempered
Bridges: one per manual
Strings: brass
Jacks: delrin
Plectra: delrin
Stops: R manual ; 8′ quills; L manual ; 4′ quills
Soundboard ??se: Ruckers angel withour initials
Frame: timber
Case: timber oblong black externally, internally ivory finish with traditional dolphin pattern ornamental papers
Lid: as per case
Music desk: detachable American walnut
Stand: detachable American walnut with four turned and tapered legs, lateral and connecting stretchers
Dimensions: 1785w x 510d x 270h ex lid and stand
Repertoire: Sweelinck and pupils, Elizabethan virginalists
Provenance: purchased from assembler
Condition category: I
Rectification required: none
Concert dates: none
Commentary
All plucked string keyboard instruments in which strings run approximately parallel to the keyboard, thus other than the harpsichord itself, are properly termed “virginals”(probably from the latin ‘viga, meaning a stick, referring to the twig-like jacks which bear the plectra which activate the strings, refer from their appearance in the late 16th century. Though many earlier examples have pentagonal or hexagonal cased, later versions sn????, this structure in the oblong rectangular case, with the keyboard on the “long” side, whither to the L (spinets), in the centre (atlavino) or to the R (muselar). Double virginals also exist, combining both L(atlavino) and 8’instruments, less commonly of spinet than muselar type, at which the above replica is an example.
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