SKU: HL.14020226

8.25x11.75x0.077 inches.

A Harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed. The instrument was widely used in Renaissance and Baroque music. During the late 18th century,it gradually disappeared from the musical scene with the rise of the Piano. In the 20th century, it made a resurgence, being used in historically informed performances of older music, in new (contemporary) compositions, and inpopular culture.

This piece is perfect for anyone who wants to discover this unique instrument. Composed in 1966 by Elizabeth Maconchy the upbeat allegro of Notebook For Harpsichord takesapproximately 8 minutes to perform.

SKU: BT.ALHE31970

French.

The third volume of Couperin's Pieces for Harpsichord does not contain a date of publication, however it is thought to have been composed during 1716-1717, due to the address which the composer gave on his other Harpsichordcompositions. Yet, the compilation remains a favourite. François Couperin (1668-1733) is often nicknamed 'Couperin the Great' to distinguish him from other members of the musical family. Many of the composer's works havepicturesque titles. Examples of this in his third volume of Pieces for Harpsichord include, La Langueur (Languor), Le Petit-Rien (The Little-Nothing) and L'Artiste (The Artist). Couperin's moods are expressed through choices ofkeys, adventurous harmonies and discords. With a significant amount of variation and inspiration, these Pieces for Harpsichord are essential to the repertoire of aspiring players of the instrument.

SKU: UT.HS-307

ISBN 9790215327146. 9 x 12 inches.

Antonio Valente blind, Neapolitan since a long time according to the list of Neapolitan musicians by Scipione Cerreto and organist in S. Angelo a Nilo in Naples, is known in modern times for his two volumes of keyboard music: Versi spirituali published in 1580 and, some years before, the volume here in transcription, Intavolatura de cimbalo, printed by Giuseppe Cacchio in 1576.
This volume has many original features: first keyboard tablature ever printed in Naples, itâ??s not written in musical characters but in a number-based system never met, according to the current studies, in any other print or manuscript both in and outside Italy. The dedication letter, written by Fraâ?? Alberto Mazza, praises Valente as the inventor of this writing method, so easy and effective that everybody, even uncouth youths that did not know music and keyboard, could attain the result of playing from it in two months.
The Intavolatura presents different genres of music: a fantasia, six ricercatas, a Salve Regina on a cantus firmus, four vocal chansons intabulated for keyboard with more or less diminutions,and nine dances, variations and dance/variations on long-living tenors like Romanesca or Zefiro. There are no liturgical compositions, both because unsuitable in a collection for amateurs and because Valente will publish a new book of sacred music in a few years.
The book is a sort of compendium of the keyboard genres of the period, similar to some older Spanish publications and to the later Neapolitan ones by Trabaci and Majone. Other contemporary volumes on the contrary choose to present a single type of composition: this is the case of the Versetti by Valente and the Ricercate by Rocco Rodio.