Harpsichord Center

News from Roberts & Brazier

We are sorry to inform you that the Concert Double which we built for the Colburn School in Los Angeles has been modified by another technician and is no longer the instrument we delivered and does not represent our voicing or action work. This situation has existed for well over 2 years and we have been unsuccesful in persuading the administration to have us put the harpsichord back to its proper playing state. We apologize to anyone planning to use the instrument and assure you that it distresses us greatly.

A new page is now devoted to tips for the harpsichord owner !

The Flemish Double

is on a new CD by the Los Angeles Baroque Players using a Roberts & Brazier Flemish Double. If you go to http://www.NewMixMusic.com you can hear a sampling and get the complete program and ordering information.

Pre-release comments:

from Allan Vogel (principal oboe, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra)

"....very enjoyable listening. I especially enjoyed the excellent transcription by Wm Neil Roberts of the Bach Organ Trio Sonata....

....the flute playing of Anthony Brazier is eloquently beautiful."

from Peter Sykes (Chair of the Early Music Dept. at Longy School of Music, Director of Cambridge Society for Early Music)

"The Los Angeles Baroque Players demonstrate elegance, taste, and refinement in this new issue of high-baroque music for chamber ensemble.

Intonation, ensemble, rhythmic sense are throughout on the highest level.

A delightful recording!"

 The Flemish Single

is on the same label and features harpsichord music of William Byrd and can be seen and heard at http://www.newmixmusic.com/old.html

The French Double

is also on NewMixMusic, featuring original compositions by Sally Mosher, and can be heard at http://www.newmixmusic.com/fromnow.html.

 New Instrument designs!

There is a new design for the French Double, the Large Franco-Flemish Harpsichord, the Flemish Single and the Flemish Double Harpsichords: with lighter cases and closer to the originals.

The new Neapolitan harpsichord is here. It has 49 notes [CC-c'''] and is fully chromatic (no short octave or split sharps) with a false inner-outer case. It is transposable to A392/415/440 and is proving to be extremely stable in its tuning.

Harpsichord lessons are given by Wm Neil Roberts at the Harpsichord Center and his monthly harpsichord classes are very popular with his faithful following.