Harpsichord Work Study Group

For the work study group scheduled at my house in Cherokee County, October 12th, we will be focusing on works for the harpsichord. I own a very lovely French double (meaning it has 2 manuals) built by the late Richard Kingston in the early 70s. I think you will find playing it quite revealing as to how Baroque phrasing and articulation was meant to be.

You are welcome to play a piece of your choice, but I have also picked out some pieces representative of each European country that was “instrumental” in the development of early keyboard music:

Wolsey’s Wilde, from the Fitzwilliam Virginal book, by William Byrd, an English Renaissance composer. The piece is based on a folk melody, a theme and variation structure.

Chaconne in F Major, by Jaques Champion de Chambonnieres, the first of the great 17th-century school of French harpsichordists and composers. The Chaconne has a theme, with 3 variations or Couplets (this is the short version).

Aria, by Bernardo Pasquini, an Italian composer and teacher, known for “teaching the Italian way of playing the organ and harpsichord.” His Prelude may sound familiar to you….

Praeludium, Harpeggiato, from the Clio Suite of the collection “The Nine Muses”, by Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer. Born in Bohemia, he was responsible for bringing the French influence to German music. This is a very simple, unmeasured movement.

Sonata No.84 in D major, Padre Antonio Soler. A late Baroque composer, from Spain, his compositions are similar to Scarlatti, with whom he may have studied.

Don’t worry if you don’t know what the ornamentations are, each is kind of different per country, per composer. Just pick a piece or two, or even a part of a piece, that you’d like to try out on the harpsichord…or one of your own choosing (Debussy? Joplin? Something jazz?).

It’s not a test, it’s an exploration!