original Germanische Nationalmuseum, Nuremburg
copy by Richard Schaumloffel, Adelaide, S.A., 1984
Description
Keyboard: single recessed manual
Keyboard materials: arcaded wooden naturals, ‘skunk-tail’ sharps
Compass: 5 1/8 octaves FF-g3
Pitch: A415Hz, transposing by key shift to A440Hz
Tuning: equal tempered
Bridge: single 8′
Strings: brass
Jacks: wooden
Plectra: delrin, leather-coloured wedges (cemb. angelico)
Stops : 8′ quill (delrin), 8′ (cembalo)
Stop Control: 3 knee levers
Soundboard: haxagonal timber rose
Frame: timber
Case: crimson exterior, blondewood interior
Lid: crimson exterior
interior, rustic landscape with cottage, painted formal composition and ‘Amor Musica’ with swags over keyboard flap
Fallboard: crimson both sides. detachable
Music desk: none
Stand: separate treble and bass tressles, each with 2 ornate legs separated by ornate stretchers, all unpainted
Dimnenions(mm) : 2565l x 1020w x 220h
Repertoire: A and D. Scarlatti, Dueconte, Gemouani, Zipoli, Salar, Seixas, Cervalmo and other Italian and Iberiancomposers of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Provenance: purchased from builder 1988
Condition category: II
Rectification required: regulation of knee levers
Commentary
As well as the f# and g3 above the FF-f3 compass, not unused in fortepianos of the period but rarely found in harpsichords, and essential for Domenico Scarlatti’s numerous sonatas, this instrument incorporates the cembalo angelico (not to be confused with the cembalo d’amore, a type of clavichord invented by Gottfried Silbermann and others in the mid 18th century) described and illustrated by an anonymous Italian inventor in 1775. It differs in detail, though not in principle, from the buffed leather plectra introduced shortly befoer by Kirckman (1768), and adapted as ‘beau de buffle’ by Taskin(1769), all probably being attempts to replicate, though not replace, the emerging fortepiano’s characteristic attack transient and harmonic structure on the earlier instrument. Cresci’s copies are like the two surviving originals, extremely uncommon.
Concert dates: 26.11.88
The Schureck Collection 
Leave a Reply