Harpsichord Amsterdam - Atelier voor muziekinstrumenten bouw

	Double Flemish ravalement Category: Flemish
	- Length: 230cm - Width: 91cm - Compass: FF/GG-f3 - Disposition: 8’, 4’, 8’ - Pitch: A=415-440 Instrument designed by F. Acanfora
The most beautiful and interesting instruments from the Flemish tradition are those made by the Ruckers/Couchet family. The richness and depth of the sound were well known already in the past, especially from the French builders who, during the XVIII century, altered many Ruckers instrument in order to adapt them to the repertoire of the period. I based on the 1638 I Ruckers for the design of our double Flemish harpsichord. The original instrument is at the Russel collection in Edinburgh, and it is the only existing Ruckers double harpsichord with its original transposing keyboards. The two keyboards, originally one fourth apart, have been aligned and the compass enlarged to FF/GG-f3, with the typical XVIII century French disposition 8’, 4’, 8’ and a coupler mechanism. Also on this instrument the c2 length, bridges and nuts position and shape have been preserved. The sound samples below are plaied by Fabrizio Acanfora
Click here to hear the upper 8'
Click here to hear the lower 8'
Click here to hear the two 8'
click here to hear 2x8'+4'

	Single Flemish harpsichord after I. Couchet, 1679 Category: Flemish
	- Length: 188cm - Width: 74,5cm - Compass: C-c3, 49 notes - Disposition: 8’, 4’, 8’ - Pitch: A=415-440
The Couchet 1679 is a beautiful and very small instrument with a chromatic-bass 4 octave compass and a disposition of 8’, 4’, 8’ on two choirs of strings, with the two 8’ plucking the same string. Despite its very small size this harpsichord has an incredibly clear, round and powerful sound from the first note in the bass to the last in the treble. The nice keyboard has bone naturals and cherry accidentals, and all the measurements such as balance point distance, key length and width have been copied from the original.
Click here to hear the front 8'
Click here to hear 8'+4'
Click here to hear the back 8'

	Single Flemish ravalement Category: Flemish
	- Length:196cm - Width: 85cm - Compass: GG/AA-e3 - Disposition: 2x8’ - Pitch: A=415-440 Instrument designed by F. Acanfora
The design of this single Flemish comes from the 1679 Couchet, and actually the bridge and nut position and shape, c2 length and plucking point have been left unaltered. In order to have a higher number of keys and not make the instrument too wide, I've reduced slightly the spacing between the strings and the width of the single keys, and modified the length and width of the case. This ravalement has a compass of GG/AA-e3 with two 8’and a pitch of A=415-440.

	Double French after P. Taskin, 1769 Category: French
	- Length: 232cm - Compass: FF-f3 - Disposition: 8’, 4’, 8’ and buff stop - Transposition: A=392-415, also available at A=440
This is one of the most copied instruments by harpsichord makers all over the world, maybe because of its light and accurate action and rich and peculiar sound. It is an instrument suitable for a wide repertoire thanks to its large compass, and it’s perfect for playing the music of the French masters (Couperin, Rameau, Balbastre etc.)

	Italian harpsichord after A.Trasuntino, 1531 Category: Italian
	- Length: 227cm - Compass: CC/EE-f3 or GG/BB-c3 - Disposition: 8’,4’ or 2x8’ - Case: false inner-outer with cypress veneer or true cypress inner-outer case. - Soundboard: cypress
This instrument had an original compass going from C/E to f3 with short octave at a pitch of probably A=370 and a disposition of 8’, 4’ with brass strings in the bass and iron for the tenor and treble. Late in 1693 its compass was changed to GG/BB-c3, the disposition to 2x8’ and strung all in brass. The Trasuntino is one of the most beautiful examples of the great Venetian school of harpsichord makers. We make a copy of both the original and the late instruments, with real and false inner outer case.

	Italian school harpsichord Category: Italian
	- Length: 240cm - Width: 86cm - Compass: GG-d3 - Disposition: 2x8' - Pitch: A=392-415-440 Instrument designed by F. Acanfora
This is our personal developement of a single harpsichord according to the late Italian tradition. It is a false inner-outer with cypress veneer and spruce soundboard, ad with a compass of four and a half octaves. The instrument is strung with brass and is perfect for continuo also with large ensembles as well as for the performance of solo music.

Instruments

Double Flemish ravalement

Single Flemish harpsichord after I. Couchet, 1679

Single Flemish ravalement

Double French after P. Taskin, 1769

Italian harpsichord after A.Trasuntino, 1531

Italian school harpsichord