It’s a challenge to design a simple and inexpensive, yet musically worthwhile harpsichord. Emmanuel Danset’s aim was to fulfill the need for a traditionally-shaped harpsichord in a similar price range to a new spinet. The Cadet model appeals to players who previously may only have been able to consider a secondhand instrument.
This Petit Clavecin is made by the craftsmen at Atelier Marc Ducornet in Paris, and was added to their Logo range of entry-level instruments in 2007.
The Cadet is single-strung, light and resonant. There is no plywood, chipboard, or MDF: The case and lid are made from solid lime, and the soundboard is Swiss pine. You can chose from five vibrant modern colors, painted directly on the wood of the case without undercoat. (On special order, we continue to offer a varnished version for the same price.) The three square-tapered legs screw into the bottom, and are varnished natural wood to match the soundboard rim, keywell, music desk and lid stick. The instrument is strung in Malcolm Rose wire using traditional tuning pins, and the wooden jacks are of traditional tapered design in maple with holly tongues, PEEK springs, and Delrin plectra.
The simple fruitwood keyboard with 56-note range allows the performance of J.S. Bach. For maximum versatility, the keyboard transposes up to modern pitch A440 without the loss of the top note. (It also transposes down to A392, without bottom GG.)
This delightful and dependable harpsichord has a clear and incisive tone, and we can highly recommend it as a first harpsichord. Recent institutional orders in Australia include West Moreton Anglican College (Brisbane); Mentone Grammar School (Melbourne); McDonald College, Reddam House and PLC Croydon (Sydney); and Churchlands Senior High School and Perth Modern School (Perth). It is also proving popular with adults who wish to have a new harpsichord in the price range of which there were previously only secondhand instruments available.
Our photo shows the Cadet model in the Ibiza color, with the included music desk.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY:
2024 Cadet in Sienna,2024 Cadet in Ibiza.
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Pastór de Lasala performing an excerpt from François Couperin’s L’Enchanteresse. |
