Re: A Harpsichord question

["Sidoti Antonio tel. +39+0461 88 1525" <sidoti@science.unitn.it>]

Hi f-minoreans and ronnie,
I am not an harpsicordist either, but I can tell you that harpsicords have
"registers" to perform the kind of sound effects you have listened in
Handel's Suites. These registers are mechanicals devices that, for
example, can play octaves while pressing a single note. But there are
others register too. Depending on the harpsicord model, the registers can
be swithced on/off by keys located near the keyboard or with pedals. I
think (but if I am wrong correct me) the former ones are called "German"
harpsicords while the lattter ones "French" ones.

Bye,
Antonio

On Sun, 29 Apr 2001, ronnie singer wrote:
> Hi F Minor,
>
> I've spent a lot of time listening to Handel's Suites 1-4 played by
> Gould on the Harpsichord and have a question relating to Suite no. 2
> in F, the second movement which is played Allegro.  The first 15 bars
> are played and then repeated.  Bars 16 to 36 when played have more
> depth than the first 15 bars, as though some mechanism on the
> Harpsichord was engaged.  As I am not a Harpsichordist, I wondering
> what Gould did to get that effect.  The nearest thing I can think of
> is, that the bass line was being played as octaves as opposed to
> single notes.  If someone could shed some light onto this I would
> appreciate it.
>
> Thanks
>
> Ronnie Singer
>