Original: Russell collection Edinburgh U.K.
Copy by Frank Hubbard, Boston, Mass., assembled by Rosemary Parle, Sydney, Aust. 1979
Description
Keyboard: single projecting manual
Keyboard materials:
Compass: 5 octaves FF-f3 (without FF#)
Pitch: A415 Hz nontransposing
Tuning: equal tempered
Bridge: single
Strings: unichord brass, copper alloy
Jacks and plectra: delrin
Stops: 8’only
Soundboard rose: none
Frame: timber
Case: walnut panels, mahogany cross-banding, boxwood stringing
Lid: mahogany unbanded
Fallboard: sloping unbanded mahogany attached to lid
Music desk: none
Stand: detachable trestle with four turned and moulded legs and front, rear and connecting stretchers all in solid mahogany
Dimensions(mm): 1890 spine x 1190 lid at keyboard x 205d (ex lid)
Repertoire: Purcell, Blow, Arne, Locke, J.C>Bach, Stanley, and for continuo
Provenance: purchased from assembler
Commentary
This descendant of the original pentagonal/hexagonal late 16th century virginal gradually replaced the English oblong version in the second half of the 17th century, remaining in vogue until supplanted by the “sqaure” fortepiano a century later. It thus bears the same relation to the more familiar “grand-shaped” harpsichord as the square fortepiano does to the grand, and was probably used in the town houses of the middle class in preference to the larger and more expensive full size harpsichords with which we are more familiar today, the originals of which belonged in concert rooms and the houses of the aristocracy. The keyboard compass of the smaller instrument remains the same, and this, with its smaller size and portability, makes it equally suitable for ensemble and solo music, excepting only works which specify two keyboard.
Condition category: I
Rectification required: none
Concert dates: 18.02.89, 04.03.89, 18.04.99, 18.06.95, 02.09.95, 19.04.98, 28.05.00, 26.08.01, 15.09.02
The Schureck Collection 
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