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NEWSLETTER |
NCG society report Januari 2025
Dear clavichord friends,
¶ It is almost February, so time for our annual meeting with a subsequent clavichord concert. We are very happy that we are now also welcome in Huis Akerendam, Velserweg 20 in Beverwijk.
The annual meeting will take place on Saturday 15 February 2025.
--Coffee will be ready at 11.00,
--
the annual meeting starts at 11.30,
--
afterwards, around 12.30 there will be lunch,
--
the concert starts at 14.00, which will be given by Esther Yae Ji Kim.
We hope that many of you can attend, both the meeting and the concert promise to be fascinating and it is always good to see each other. Introductions are welcome, it is not too late for anyone to get acquainted with the clavichord.
Would you like to send your registration to clavichord.akerendam@gmail.com? If you only want to come to the concert, please let us know when you register, otherwise we will not prepare lunch for you. Huis Akerendam is located directly opposite Beverwijk station. Those who come by car can park for free at the Wijckerpoort car park. The Halve Maan car park (in front of the station) costs €1.25 per hour.
¶ Concert by Esther Yae Ji Kim on Saturday 15 February, 14:00 in Huis Akerendam, Velserweg 20 in Beverwijk.
Many of you will have met Esther Yae Ji Kim. She is now a well-known name in the clavichord world, because of her unwavering attention to our instrument. Four years ago she defended her dissertation on the clavichord, but she is also known as a lively interpreter of the clavichord repertoire. She grew up in Sydney but came to Europe to study with Menno van Delft in Hamburg. That is where she lives now, but for us she likes to come to the Netherlands
Programma:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Invention No. 12 in A Major, BWV 783
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Italienisches Konzert, BWV 971 i
ii Andante
iii Presto
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1561–1621)
6 Variations on “Mein junges Leben hat ein End,” SwWV 324
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714–1788)
Fantasia in c minor from Probestücke, Wq 63/6
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
Klaviersonate No.1 in C Major, K 279
i Allegro
ii Andante
iii Allegro
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714–1788)
Abschied von meinem Silbermannischen Claviere in einem Rondo, Wq 66
¶ Annual meeting on Saturday 15 February, 11.30 am
Important agenda items for this meeting are:
-----Annual report 2024, consisting of an activity report and a financial report
-----Board changes: two of our board members, Erik van Bruggen and Sander Ruys, have decided to step down. The other three board members, Henk Glas, Jeroen Heijungs and Pieter Kuipers will remain available for the coming year;
-----Report of the “Future Committee” (Danielle van der Waard, Wim Ros, Geert de Witte, Pieter Kuipers)
-----Discussion of 3 possible future scenarios (see newsletter #82, November 2024)
-
continue quietly
-
controlled dissolution
-
adapt to modern times
------Translation into practice, concrete plans for 2025. The board proposes to implement the following matters in the coming year
-Playing together day in Ravenswaaij and an autumn concert;
-Publication of several newsletters;
-To investigate cooperation with similar organisations, starting with the Dutch Harpsichord Society and the Deutsche Clavichord Societät;
-To prepare online publication of all publications of Clavichord International and its predecessors;
-To request quotations for and if possible to realise a modern infrastructure for the website and online communication with the clavichord community.
¶ Faits Divers
On Saturday 31 May (!) there will be another day of playing together in the beautiful church of Ravenswaaij. The first registrations have already been received. Will you join us? Please note: this date is a little later than previously mentioned.
Our friends from the Deutsche Clavichord Societät are organising a festive gathering in Bad Krozingen in the weekend of 12-14 September. It is the fiftieth time that there are German Clavichord Days and this will be celebrated extensively. The provisional programme can be found at www.clavichord.info. It would be great if we could participate with a generous Dutch delegation.
For the quick decision-makers: it has just been announced that an international clavichord festival will be held in Copenhagen again this year, in the weekend of 21-23 March. Tickets and programme can be found at www.Bronshojkirke.dk, on facebook or by googling international clavichord festival copenhagen.
¶ Music supplement
Kees Rosenhart lets us know that he wants to share one of his favorite pieces with us: the Tiento de dos Manos by Gabriel Menalt. It is a page-turner, the publication was made for it.
¶ Website NCG
On our website www.clavichordgenootschap.nl members: builders, players, music publishers and other clavichord enthusiasts can present themselves with their offers in the SHOP section. Don't forget to check there regularly! New notifications are welcome (further information at info@clavichordgenootschap.nl).
Kind regards,
Erik van Bruggen (chairman, tel. 071-5134139), Henk Glas (treasurer, tel. 020-6470737), Sander Ruys (tel. 06-23832937), Jeroen Heijungs (tel. 06-42572546) and Pieter Kuipers (secretary, pieter@clavichordgenootschap.nl).
NCG society report November 2024
Dear members
¶ It is autumn, time for our autumn concert. We hope to welcome many of you in the
beautiful house Akerendam where on Saturday 30 November our board member
Jeroen Heijungs will give a concert on two different clavichords.
¶ But our society is also in the autumn of its existence. At the upcoming annual meeting,
tough nuts have to be cracked about our future. Kees Rosenhart has compiled a
matching appendix for us about complaining and loving.
¶Autumn concert by Jeroen Heijungs on Saturday 30 November, 11:00
Host Koeno Sluyterman has been so kind as to open the beautiful Huis Akerendam, Velserweg 20 in
Beverwijk, for our autumn concert. The concert starts at 11:00, the hall opens
at 10:30. Afterwards we would like to have lunch with you in the nearby
restaurant Brafoer.
The number of places is limited, so we would like to ask you to send your registration, no later than Monday
25 November, to clavichord.akerendam@gmail.com . Please also indicate whether you will
participate in the subsequent lunch, at your own expense. Introductions are very welcome. The
entrance fee is €10 per person for introductions, free admission for members of the NCG.
Jeroen Heijungs brings two clavichords: a 4-octave bound clavichord after Donat,
built by Jan Kalsbeek and a 5-octave bound clavichord after Hubert, built by
Koen Vermeij. The program includes, subject to change, works by Matthias Weckmann,
Johann Jakob Froberger, Domenico Scarlatti, Johann Sebastian Bach, Joseph Haydn and Graham
Lynch. The full program will be available on our website soon.
¶ Our future
Two of our board members, Erik van Bruggen and Sander Ruys, have decided to step down at the
next members' meeting. The other three board members, Henk Glas, Jeroen
Heijungs and Pieter Kuipers will remain available until 2026.
¶ At the last members' meeting in Doesburg, a committee consisting of Danielle van der
Waard, Wim Ros, Geert de Witte and Pieter Kuipers was set up to consider
future scenarios for our society. They have met several times and
recently reported to the board.
¶ At the next members' meeting, three future scenarios will be discussed.
-Scenario A: "Continue quietly"
We expect that of the current 85-90 members, 15-20, especially those
abroad, will drop out because of the discontinuation of Clavichord International. It is possible to
continue with an annual concert and an annual play-along day in
Ravenswaaij for a few more years.
The majority of the members do not show up there, visitor numbers are low, there is hardly any new
growth, which means that at a certain point the organization of an event no longer makes sense.
-Scenario B: “Controlled dissolution”
Some say that the goal has been achieved. In order to dissolve the Society in a controlled manner, it is
necessary to work this out in the course of 2025. This involves carefully transferring
the remaining matters. This means, among other things, making all the numbers
of Clavichord International available online, finding a worthy destination for the available
funds and three instruments and transferring our membership to a related
organization.
-Scenario C: “Adapting to modern times”
Only if we were to succeed in inspiring people outside the circle of current members
does it seem possible to bring a more modern version of the society to life. This can be done by:
--- Collaboration or integration with related organisations in the field of historical keyboard
(harpsichord, pianoforte, possibly organ);
--- Collaboration with conservatories;
--- Strengthening our online visibility. This is not limited to technology, it mainly concerns people
who want to act as moderators in blogs, WhatsApp groups, etc.;
--- Setting up a decentralised structure: different circles of volunteers who are
committed to a component, for example harpsichord building, excursions, repertoire knowledge,
lectures, master classes. This instead of a central board that organises and
participants who consume.
--- Setting up a harpsichord fund that also stimulates and
enables loss-making activities.
¶ Miscellaneous
The annual meeting will take place on Saturday, February 15, 2025.
The subsequent concert will be given by Esther Yae Ji Kim.
¶ Music supplement
Kees Rosenhart has found a “Klavierstück” for us that J.F. Reichardt made in 1782 based on
an Ode by Petrarch. A three-part drama in E flat major.
¶ NCG website
On our website www.clavichordgenootschap.nl members: builders, players,
music publishers and other clavichord enthusiasts can present themselves in the SHOP section
with their offers. Don't forget to check there regularly! New
notifications are welcome (further information atj info@clavichordgenootschap.nl
Kind regards,
Erik van Bruggen (chairman, tel. 071-5134139), Henk Glas (treasurer, tel. 020-6470737),
Sander Ruys (tel. 06-23832937), Jeroen Heijungs (tel. 06-42572546) and Pieter Kuipers
(secretary, pieter@clavichordgenootschap.nl).
NCG society report April 2024
Dear members,
¶ Spring is still young, but it is high time to remind you of the two activities that
coming up next month: Reinhard Siegert's clavichord concerto on April 20
and our play day on May 18 in Ravenswaaij. We hope to meet many of you.
Concert and masterclass by Reinhard Siegert on Saturday April 20 in Leiden
¶ Next Saturday, April 20, Reinhard Siegert will come to the Netherlands for a
clavichord concert in the Walloon church, Breestraat 62 in Leiden. He has a colorful program
composed that we already reveal here.
J. S. Bach under Gottfried Kirchhoff (1685 – 1746) Fantasia & Fughetta B-Dur BWV 907
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681 – 1767) Fantasia No. 8 g-Moll TWV 33:8
Vivace - Cantabile - Vivace
Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer (1656 – 1746) [Suite] VIII G- Dur
Praeludium - Chaconne
Alessandro Marcello (1673 - 1747) / J. S. Bach “Adagio” aus: Concerto d-Moll BWV 974
Georg Andreas Sorge (1703 – 1778) Sonata I B-Dur “im neuern Styl gesetzet” (1745)
Moderato - Andante - Aria - Fugetta
Johann Friedrich Schmoll (1739 - 1794) Orgelstück G-Dur (1789)
J. S. Bach under Gottfried Kirchhoff (1685 – 1746) Fantasia & Fughetta D-Dur BWV 908
You are welcome from 10 a.m. to attend the master classes in the morning and afternoon
will take place. The daily program is:
- 10.00 reception with coffee
- 10.30 start master class
- 12.30 lunch (bring your own or obtain it nearby)
- 1.30 pm concert
- 2.30 pm second series of master classes
- 4 p.m. closing
You can actively participate in the masterclass by registering via
info@clavichordgenootschap.nl. First come, first served! There is a 5 octave
unbound clavichord available, after Silbermann. You are free to choose your repertoire.
Entrance €30 for active participants, €15 for listeners. Students 50% discount.
¶ play-and-get-together-day
On Saturday, May 18, 2024 there will be our clavichord performance day in the 17th century church of
Ravenswaaij. It would be nice if many of you would come: good for you, and good for everyone else
attendees!
At 11 a.m. coffee and tea will be ready and everyone can place their clavichord, the door is
open from 10.30 am. Even those who cannot bring their own instrument are allowed to play. We hope
again with a lot of music on offer, both before and after lunch (bring your own packed lunch for coffee
and tea is provided). Audience members and guests are also welcome. The costs are €10 p.p.
We start with a musical round where each person introduces the clavichord they brought with them
let it sound. After lunch there is time in which everyone can use the available instruments for themselves
trying out. The concert of prepared contributions offered on the spot then forms the
conclusion of the afternoon that ends around 4 p.m. Please register at
info@clavichordgenootschap.nl.
¶ Facts Miscellaneous
In the next newsletter we will update you about the last members meeting and about the
plans for the fall.
A double music supplement
You can look forward to two music supplements this time. Now that the cows are going back to the meadow is one thing
Capriccio fitting. Kees Rosenhart has prepared a Capriccio by Frescobaldi for us, with
a Flemish bass. The piece is based on the song “Almande Brun Smeedelyn”, that's what you get
this time.
¶ NCG website
On our website www. Clavichordgenootschap.nl members: builders, players,
music publishers and other clavichord interested parties can visit the STORE section
present their offers. Don't forget to check there regularly! New ones
Reports are welcome (further information at info@clavichordgenootschap.nl).
Kind regards,
Erik van Bruggen (chairman, tel. 071-5134139), Henk Glas (treasurer, tel. 020-6470737),
Sander Ruys (tel. 06-23832937), Jeroen Heijungs (tel. 06-42572546) and Pieter Kuipers
(secretary, pieter@clavichordgenootschap.nl).
NCG society report January 2024
Dear members,
¶ The new year has started. We wish you much happiness, health and music in 2024. And yes
If you still have room for good intentions, we propose that you make at least one of them this year
to visit the activities of the Clavichord Society. Because the board has decided to
to face the future with your heads held high, we invite you to actively participate in this
to take.
¶ In this newsletter you will find information about:
• The annual meeting on Saturday February 17 in Doesburg
• The clavichord masterclass on Saturday April 20 in Leiden
• The play day on Saturday, May 18 in Ravenswaaij
• The clavichord excursion to Friesland in October
• The autumn concert in November
¶ Bernard Brauchli died. (1944-2023)
On Saturday, November 11, 2023, the champion of the clavichord, Bernard Brauchli, passed away.
His contribution to public interest in the clavichord has been enormous. Many of you
will have met him in Magnano in Northern Italy, the place where his mother came from
came, where he organized annual clavichord conferences and where clavichord-loving Europe
liked to come. There were concerts, lectures, and above all, many inspiring conversations and...
contacts.
You can honor him by publishing his standard work on the clavichord with the simple title The
Clavichord to read (again). It was published in 1998 but is still easy to order
at your favorite bookstore or website. It is more than worth the price of about €45.
¶ The future of the Dutch Clavichord Society
The members of the NCG have instructed the board to work on a future plan for
our society. Discussions have been held with various people over the past year
ideas exchanged. An overview of various future scenarios for our society
can be found in the appendix. We would now like to put the ball back in your hands. We would like to receive responses to this
piece by email via info@clavichordgenootschap.nl. If you do this no later than February 14, we can
discuss your responses together at our annual meeting.
¶ Annual meeting on Saturday, February 17
Our annual meeting will be held this year at the home of the famous clavichords
harpsichord player Siebe Henstra in Doesburg. He will receive us in his historic building
De Swarte Ram, Ooipoortstraat 60 in the old center of Doesburg, wherever he is
instrument collection will show. Program:
- 10.00 door open
- 10.30 NCG members meeting (agenda in the attachment)
- 12.00 lecture by Sander Ruys entitled “Mozart's travel clavichord” (by Stein)
- 12.30 lunch in the Waag (own expense)
- 14.00 clavichord concert by Siebe Henstra on a clavichord after J.A.Hass, in 1967
built by Martin Skowroneck for Gustav Leonhardt (program see attachment)
We hope for a large turnout with a lively discussion about our future
society.
Please register in a timely manner by email to info@clavichordgenootschap.nl. Access
for the concert is €15 per person (on rack NL13INGB0004740370), free for
NCG members. Those who come by car can park for free on the edge of the old town.
By train you can travel to Dieren station or Arnhem station and from there continue by bus. If so
If everything is not feasible for you, the board will try to help you.
¶ Masterclass by Reinhard Siegert on Saturday April 20 in Leiden
Both young musicians and experienced clavichord enthusiasts have told us that they like
would see that a master class in clavichord playing is given more often. Following it
wonderful concert that Reinhard Siegert gave on the last clavichord days of the
DCS in Cologne we decided to invite him to a masterclass in the Netherlands. He
lives in Germany but comes to the Netherlands more often: he studied with Menno van
Delft, received a prize at the Early Music Festival, played at the Grachtenfestival in 2023 and is
teacher at the Arnhem Conservatory.
He will give a clavichord masterclass and a concert on Saturday April 20 in the Walloon Church,
Breestraat 62 in Leiden, starting at 10.30.
You can actively participate in the masterclass by registering via
info@clavichordgenootschap.nl. First come, first served! There is a 5 octave
unbound clavichord available, after Silbermann. You are free to choose your repertoire.
Entrance €30 for active participants, €15 for listeners. Students 50% discount.
¶ play-and-get-together-dayy in Ravenswaaij
Will take place on Saturday May 18. Please put that in your diary so we can have a great day
make of.
¶ Faits Miscellaneous
• This month it was announced that our member, Laurens de Man, has been awarded the Dutch Music Prize.
The NCG warmly congratulates him on this highest musical award in the Netherlands
achievement falls. For the first time in history, the prize has been awarded to an organist
clavichord player. NRC reported that he mainly focused on making diversity heard
of the organ, improvisation and clavichord playing.
• Quick decision makers can still visit the Copenhagen International Clavichord
Festival 2024 which will be held on February 2, 3 and 4. Further information at
www.bronshojkirke.dk or on the DCS website, www.clavichord.info.
• The clavichord days in Cologne last September were a great encouragement for us.``
The turnout was above expectations, there were many young people, but also seasoned ones
builders and players. The location was beautiful, there were many different instruments on display
and to hear beautiful concerts. All credit to Suzana Mendes for making these days a great success
has made.
• The autumn concert in the Jagthuis in Nederhorst den Berg by Menno van Delft and Dalyn Cook
offered a varied and lively program of music for 1, 2, 3 and 4 hands.
Everything played on an original clavichord by Krämer from 1803. In addition to several members of the
NCG, there were people in the audience who had never heard a clavichord. Do you remember?
when you first heard a clavichord?
• There will also be an autumn concert in 2024, if possible on Saturday 23 or 30 November. But
Before that there is an excursion to Friesland, probably on Saturday October 19. Details to follow.
• The final paper issue of Clavichord International has not yet been printed, but the
preparations are well advanced. You can expect it in your mailbox this spring.
¶ Music attachment
That the Berlin cellist and organist Christian Friedrich Schale (1713-1800) was also good at
you can already hear composing in his opus 1: sei brevi sonata. This music was initially published
“pour les dames” but nowadays it can also be performed by gentlemen without any objection.
For example on May 18 in Ravenswaaij? Kees Rosenhart has created a beautiful publication for you
from the first sonata opus 1.
¶ NCG website
On our website www. Clavichordgenootschap.nl members: builders, players,
music publishers and other clavichord interested parties can visit the STORE section
present their offers. Don't forget to check there regularly! New ones
Reports are welcome (further information at info@clavichordgenootschap.nl).
Kind regards,
Erik van Bruggen (chairman, tel. 071-5134139), Henk Glas (treasurer, tel. 020-6470737),
Sander Ruys (tel. 06-23832937), Jeroen Heijungs (tel. 06-42572546) and Pieter Kuipers
(secretary, pieter@clavichordgenootschap.nl).
NCG society report september 2023
Dear members,
¶ We hope you had a good summer, and that you and your clavichord did not suffer
under the changing weather. It is about time to let you know about the beautiful
activities that this autumn has to offer.
In this newsletter you will find:
• Clavichord Days in Cologne on September 22, 23 and 24
• Our Autumn Concert on Sunday, November 5
• NCG archive
• Music attachment
¶ Clavichord days in Cologne
Very soon, namely in the weekend of 22, 23 and 24
September celebrates our German sister organization, the Deutsche
Clavichord Societät's 30th anniversary. This is going to be a nice one
party and also takes place close to the Netherlands, only
three hours by train or car from Utrecht. It would be nice
if we act with a significant Dutch delegation
to be able to make a presence.
The most original program item is without a doubt the
lecture by neuroscientist Stefan Kölsch, who will
talk about the influence of loudness on our musical performance
observation. An extremely relevant topic for anyone who wants to play the clavichord
relate. The opening concert is Friday evening, the birthday concert Saturday evening and the
final concert is Sunday afternoon. Everything takes place in a beautiful church in the center of Cologne.
The full program can be found at clavichord.info, where you can also register. The
The main language is German, but you can also get far with English or Dutch.
¶ Autumn concert: Sunday, November 5, 3:30 PM
To make our autumn concert something special this year, we have invited two players:
Menno van Delft and Dalyn Cook will perform the concert together. They play works for one,
two, three and four hands, interspersed with poetry and text fragments. They bring an original
clavichord from 1803, built by Kraemer and sons from Göttingen.
This concert will be held in the Jagthuis in Nederhorst den Berg, Middenweg 88. A
Directions can be found at www.jagthuis.nl/informatie/route. Parking is available opposite it
Hunting lodge on the Machineweg.
Tickets for the concert can be purchased via the Jagthuis website ((www.jagthuis.nl) for €20
per person. As a gesture to all members of the NCG, the board has decided to...
to make entrance free, and to ask for a voluntary contribution. You can register for this via our email address
info@clavichordgenootschap.nl We would like to hear in advance whether you will be there, but who does not want to commit
You can also report to the cash register before the start.
¶ Archive
The board would like to receive an overview of available NCG archives. On the
There is currently no inventory, and it is not even known where and with whom the historical pieces are
accommodated. The aim is to bring this together as much as possible and draw up an inventory.
If you have archive documents in your possession, we would like to hear from you so that they can be included
can be in the inventory.
¶ Music supplement
This time Kees Rosenhart brings you a colorful toccata by Jan Adam Reincken (1643-1722),
once organist of the Bergkerk in Deventer. In this work you can improve your technical as well as your
hone expressive skills.
¶ NCG website
On our website www. Clavichordgenootschap.nl members: builders, players,
music publishers and other clavichord interested parties can visit the STORE section
present their offers. Don't forget to check there regularly! New ones
Reports are welcome (further information at info@clavichordgenootschap.nl).
Kind regards,
Erik van Bruggen (chairman, tel. 071-5134139), Henk Glas (treasurer, tel. 020-6470737),
Sander Ruys (tel. 06-23832937), Jeroen Heijungs (tel. 06-42572546) and Pieter Kuipers
(secretary, pieter@clavichordgenootschap.nl).
NCG society report april 2023
Dear members,
¶ You will receive the second newsletter of this year from a different email address than you are used to. We
are pleased that the board is complete again with the arrival of a new secretary, to be reached at
pieter@clavichordgenootschap.nl.
In this newsletter you will find news and gifts:
• The Ravenswaaij play-and-get-together-day on Saturday 20 May;
• Report of the General Meeting of Members in Akerendam house;
• Peeking at the neighbours: Jubilee of the Deutsche Clavichord Societät in Cologne;
• Introducing: new secretary;
• Dissolution and future Clavichord International;
• Your gift: Harpsichord & Fortepiano Magazine;
• Your second gift: music supplement
¶ Play-and-get-together-day in Ravenswaaij
On Saturday, May 20, 2023, the clavichord will be playing together in the 17th-century church of
Ravenswaaij, located on the picturesque Lekdijk opposite Wijk bij Duurstede. It would be nice
if you want to come in large numbers: good for you, and good for everyone else present!
At 11 a.m. coffee and tea are ready and everyone can give their clavichord a place, the door is
open from 10.30 am. Even those who cannot bring their own instrument are welcome to play. We hope
again on a lot of music, both before and after lunch (bring your own packed lunch, for coffee
and tea provided). Audience members and guests are also welcome. The costs are € 10 p.p.
We start with a musical round, where each introduces the clavichord and
sound. After lunch there is time in which everyone can use the instruments for themselves
trying out. The usual concert of prepared contributions offered on the spot forms
then the afternoon closing which ends around 4pm.
If you would like to be picked up from Culemborg station, you can request this when registering.
Register at info@clavichordgenootschap.nl.
¶ Report of the General Meeting of Members 2023 and concert in Akerendam house;
On Saturday, February 18, the annual
meeting of our Society. You can read what was discussed there in the draft minutes that
you will find in the appendix. Much more was discussed in the corridors and in the kitchen.
Our board member Sander Ruys had brought two unbound clavichords: one recent
instrument, built in 2021 after Specken, Stockholm 1743, size C-d3 of pickled
elm wood and an instrument built in 2012 after Silbermann, Strasbourg 1775, size FF-f3
of French walnut.
Both instruments were played by Pieter Jan Belder. He played
Bach's Fifth French Suite, 4 Preludes and Fugas from the Well-Tempered Clavier and the Sixth
Kenner und Liebhaber sonate Wq.55 van Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
¶ Peeking at the neighbours: Jubilee of the Deutsche Clavichord Societät in Cologne
Our German friends exist 30 years. They celebrate this with a nice get-together over the weekend
from September 22-24 in the Carthusian Church in Cologne. All members of the Dutch Clavichord
Society are very welcome, we hope of course to meet many of you there,
it is not far from the Netherlands. The weekend starts Friday night. The DCS has a new,
colorful website (www.clavichord.info) that is worth a visit, if only
because there is a competition there that can get you free entry to this weekend: people are looking
catchy texts and pictures about the clavichord. Details about the program will follow,
We will keep you informed.
¶ The clavichord: the laptop among clavier instruments
(The new secretary, Pieter Kuipers introduces himself)
In the last newsletter of 2022 there was a call: 'Who wants to be secretary of our society
are?'. I reacted in an idealistic mood and I will be your new one at the members' meeting
become secretary. For me, the clavichord is the laptop among keyboard instruments: you
open it and you enter its own world, nurtured by life partners such as Bach and his son. You
close it and you can take the instrument with you relatively easily. Mozart traveled like this, Beethoven and
Haydn grew up with it. But the clavichord is more than a window to the past, it
instrument also has a future. More and more people are discovering the limits of growth
have been reached or exceeded: even more noise, even bigger gatherings. Scream about
attention no longer works. The clavichord fits in this time of new small scale, of focus
on matters that affect us and of attention to the individual. Who wants to get acquainted with the
clavichord must search well. An interested enthusiast can gain easier access
to a beautiful church organ, or to a modern piano then to a clavichord. There is still much to do.
I hope to be able to contribute to this together with you.
A long time ago I studied musicology in Utrecht and physics in Groningen, a beautiful
combination. After graduating, I worked for many years in commercial and technical positions at the
KLM.
Working together internationally has taught me a lot about cultural differences and -
agreements. I learned negotiation from the Americans, hospitality from the Arabs,
eating together from the Italians and diplomacy from the French. After several years in France
I returned to the Netherlands in 2013 to spend more time on music. That gave room to study modern piano at the Schumann Akademie and
historical instrument building at the Ghent Conservatory. Chamber music is my musical
and social home base. Our Jagthuis in Nederhorst den Berg is a meeting place for musicians
and public, we have been organizing about 25 concerts a year for more than 20 years. Am at the moment
I am doing research into the Dutch keyboard builder Louis Dulcken, grandson of the
Antwerp harpsichord maker Johannes Daniel Dulcken. I also advise restaurateurs
about historical stringing of instruments. Because a lot is different now than in the 18th century, but
not the laws of nature. In addition to my position at the NCG, I am also a member of the board of the Harpsichord
Society, the Van Swieten Society and of course the Jagthuis Chamber Music Foundation.
Pieter Kuipers.
¶ Dissolution and future of Clavichord International
The magazine that has fascinated and connected us for so long is dissolved, you have heard.
Hopefully one more closing number will come. Many articles are of lasting value and
therefore the board intends to make all editions of Clavichord International available online:
Clavichord Online. This requires technical adjustments to our website and digitization
and indexing of all material. We are thinking 2024 to get this job done, not 2023.
For you, this means rethinking your NCG membership.Do you see it as a business
transaction (you buy a magazine and pay others something for it) or do you want to contribute to a
community that has a warm heart for the clavichord? We hope the latter because together
can we do more.
¶ Your two presents
Kees Rosenhart has also made a beautiful music supplement for your music desk. This time
you will receive an entire suite, in B minor, by Johann Ludwig Krebs.
Enclosed you will find a second gift, it is the complete last issue of the magazine
"Harpsichord & Fortepiano". In this issue two long articles about the clavichord: organist
Terence Charlston writes about the positive influence of the pedal clavichord on his organ playing,
Paul Simmonds writes about repertoire for clavichord. This magazine has been around for 50 years and going
about early keyboard music and instruments. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to know more
mainly because of the always high quality of the contributions. A subscription can be taken out through them
¶ NCG website
On our website www. Clavichordgenootschap.nl can members: builders, players,
music publishers and other clavichord enthusiasts registered in the section
SHOP with their offers. Don't forget to go there regularly
to look! New reports are welcome (further information at
info@clavichordgenootschap.nl).
¶ Kind regards,
Erik van Bruggen (chairman, tel. 071-5134139), Henk Glas (treasurer, tel. 020-6470737),
Sander Ruys (tel. 06-23832937), Jeroen Heijungs (tel. 06-42572546) and Pieter Kuipers
(secretary, pieter@clavichordgenootschap.nl).
Attachments:
- Draft minutes General Members' Meeting 18 February 2023
- Music supplement: Johann Ludwig Krebs, Suite in B minor
- Harpsichord & Fortepiano, Volume 27/1, Fall 2022
NCG society report 20 januari 2023
Dear members
¶ The board wishes everyone a happy, musical and healthy 2023.
¶ The first newsletter this year is about:
• General Meeting of Members 2023 and clavichord concert by Pieter-Jan Belder
• Play day together
• Music attachment
¶ General Meeting of Members 2023 and clavichord concert
Date: February 18, 11:00 AM, Door open 10:30 AM. Concert start: approx. 2:00 p.m.
Place: The House Akerendam in Beverwijk
Address: Velserweg 20, 1942 LD Beverwijk. This is right opposite the station and a car park which is free on Saturdays.
Lunch is offered free of charge to members attending the general assembly. The concert is free for members. Non-members pay €15. Introductions are welcome..
The clavichord concerto is performed by Pieter-Jan Belder. He plays works by JCF Fischer, JS Bach and CPE Bach
To register
Members who want to attend the general meeting and/or the concert must register, due to lunch and the maximum number of visitors, at clavichord.akerendam@gmail.com
Please indicate whether you want to attend the ALV, lunch and concert, or just the concert.
Given the limited size of the room and arranging lunch, registration is necessary before February 15! Members who have already signed up do not need to do so again.
Agenda of this General Meeting of Members
1. Opening and Agenda
2. Minutes of the General Meeting of Members of April 2, 2022
3. Annual report of the board
4. NCG and CI annual financial report
5. Findings of the Audit Committee
6. Election of board members
7. Future Activities
8. Any other business and closure
At 2: Concept enclosed.
Re 4: The report will be available for inspection at the meeting.
Re 6: The board proposes to appoint Pieter Kuipers as board member.
¶ According to the roster, it is Henk Glas's turn to step down as treasurer in 2023. He is seeking re-election. Any opposing candidates are requested to report to the board before February 15, 2023.
¶ Play Together Day
On Saturday, May 20, 2023, a clavichord play together day will be organised in the 17th-century church of Ravenswaaij, located on the picturesque Lekdijk opposite Wijk bij Duurstede. At 11:00 coffee and tea are ready and everyone can give their clavichord a place. Even those who cannot bring their own instrument are welcome to play. We hope again for a lot of music, both before and after lunch (bring your own packed lunch, coffee and tea will be provided). Audience members and guests are also welcome. The costs are € 10 p.p.
We start with a musical round in which everyone introduces and sounds the clavichord they have brought. After lunch there is time in which everyone can try out the instruments for themselves. The usual concert of prepared contributions, offered on the spot, then concludes the afternoon, which ends around 4 p.m.
If you would like to be picked up from Culemborg station, you can request this when registering.
Register at info@clavichordgenootschap.nl
¶ Music attachment
Chaconne 24 and 47 of L. Couperin are again taken care of by Kees Rosenhart.
¶ NCG website
On our website www. Clavichordgenootschap.nl members: builders, players, music publishers and other clavichord enthusiasts can present themselves in the STORE section with their offers. Don't forget to check there regularly! New reports are welcome (further information at info@clavichordgenootschap.nl).
¶ With best regards,
Erik van Bruggen (chairman, tel. 071-5134139), Henk Glas (treasurer, tel. 020-6470737), Sander Ruys (tel. 051-7396069) and Jeroen Heijungs (tel. 06-42572546).
NCG society report Oktober 2022
¶ Dear members,
¶ The 3rd Newsletter this year about the autumn clavichord concert by Pieter-Jan Belder and about the discontinuation of the magazine,
¶
THIS CONCERT IS CANCELLED!!
Concert date: December 10, 3:15 pm Pieter-Jan Belder, clavichord
Please indicate if you want to attend the concert: info@clavichordgenootschap.nl
Location: Dorpskerk Voorst (Gelderland, near Zutphen)
Address: 7383 CA Voorst Gem Voorst (whichever way you approach the village of Voorst, the slender spire of the Dorpskerk is always visible). There is a train connection to Voorst from Apeldoorn and Zutphen, from the station it is about a 15-20 minute walk to the church, pick up from the station is possible, please indicate this in advance.
Door open: 3:00 PM.
Entrance: € 15,-- including 1 drink
Programme: compositions by D. Buxtehude, J.S. Bach, C.P.E Bach.
¶ Clavichord International
The upcoming November issue of Clavichord International, vol 26 no 2 will be the last regular issue of CI!
The dissolution of the British society (about 45 subscribers), a decimation of the number of American subscribers (by about 40), but also the decline in the number of members of the NCG, DCS and other societies is to blame. The combination of this declining number of subscribers (once almost 500, now just 170) and the very sharply increased shipping and printing costs unfortunately make it impossible for the NCG to continue the publication.
This of course hurts, but we think that ending the blade in 1 go will hurt less than gradually reducing it using the cheese slicer method.
With this sad news, however, we also have something positive to report. The board of the NCG has decided that we want to support the publication of one more issue of CI in the coming year, 2023. The intention is that this will be a kind of "party" or "mourning" number, completely in full-color, and distributed among all current members / subscribers for free!
We must make the reservation that this depends on the quantity and quality of the supplied copy. This is also the reason that we don't give a deadline for this last number, we keep it at "somewhere in 2023".
The termination of CI automatically terminates the subscriptions. Members of the association remain members. The contribution is reduced to € 25,--
¶ Board and audit committee
With regard to the administrative and formal side of the NCG, there are still two problems to report:
- only one member of the audit committee was appointed at the last annual meeting. A second member is highly desirable and, in principle, mandatory! The task consists of checking the finances before it is presented in the annual report at the annual meeting. Since corona this has been done digitally. The treasurer sends all information by e-mail. Any questions can also be asked and answered by email.
- there is currently no secretary on the board of the association, this positi
NCG society report February 2022
The Dutch Clavichord Society - NCG
Association for connoisseurs and lovers founded 1987
Newsletter no. 74 – 19 January 2022
¶ Dear members,
This is the first NCG newsletter in 2022 and besides, the first one drawn up by mr. Tom Brockmeier’s successor as a secretary: mr. Kees van der Steege.
Already by e-mail the board wished you a prosperous and healthy 2022. And come to think of it, I kindly request you to let the board know any changes in your mail addresses.
Once more you are urgently requested to try and persuade your fellow-clavichord players who up to now have not felt the need to become an NCG member, to change their mind. The advantages of playing the clavichord in addition to playing the piano cannot but be well-known by now: keeping your neighbours happy and easy transportation.
With pleasure those interested will be sent a free sample issue of the English-language magazine ‘Clavichord International’ and besides, you may forward this Newsletter to them.
We are in great need of an increase of members, since, in plain English, we are getting short of money. During the past year the number of members decreased to less than a hundred, in spite of new members brought in.
¶ General Meeting (ALV), lecture and concert, 13 November 2021
This meeting was in fact the one postponed from last February. The first draft of the minutes will be sent as soon as possible, together with the invitation for the coming ALV.
“I was delighted, after such a long time, to see members of the Clavichord Society, to assemble and attend a concert”, mr. Gerard van de Meerakker said. Enclosed you find his report of the concert by Dietrich Kollmannsperger from Tangermünde.
¶ The ALV/Ledendag 2022, due as it was on the third Saturday in Febrary, will have to be postponed as well, on account of both uncertainty in connection with the COVID 19 measures and the restricted time for preparing it. An invitation for a new date will be sent shortly.
As far as we can see, our Play-and-get-together meeting is due on the third Saturday in May. You will be informed as soon as the board knows more about it.
¶ Website NCG
Sheet music enclosed
The Sonata Rondon en Fa Major by Antonio Soler, as usual provided by mr. Kees Rosenhart.
¶ Harpsichord student-performance evening with soms clavichord music bij students of Menno van Delft:
Wednesday 30th March, starting at 1930 hours, Sweelinck-room, Amsterdam Conservatory.
¶ On our website www.clavichordgenootschap.nl members, players, builders, music publishers and others with an interest in the clavichord can present themselves and their offers in the SHOP-section. Don’t forget and see what is on!
We shall welcome new offers. See mail address below.
With cordial greetings, on behalf of the board, Erik van Bruggen, chairman.
¶ The board may be contacted by way of info@clavichordgenootschap.nl
¶ The concert by mr. Dietrich Kollmannsperger, 13 November 2021
Previous to the concert the performer informed the audience that he meant to emphasize the use of the clavichord as an instrument to organ players for home study; reason why we were not to expect music in the style of the period of the Empfindsamkeit.
The first piece to be played was Praeambulum in C by Heinrich Scheidemann (1596-1663), a student of J. P. Sweelinck, linking Sweelinck and J.S. Bach. A thorough polyphonic work with imitations and sequenses, skillfully composed.
This was followed by two dances from Terpsichore by Michael Praetorius (1571-1626), also known as Schultheisz, Schulteis or Schulze. A volta and a courante. On the occasion to be listened to as arranged for clavier.
Next we listened to the delightful polyphonic Fantasy in e, rather a strict composition, provided with elaborate imitations, by the Amsterdam organ player Anthoni van Noordt (1619-1675), well-known moreover as an inspector of organs in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
By Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583-1643) we heard Aria detto balletto, a masterly succession of eight variations on an aria and an attractive choice in the programme.
While listening to this work I could not help feeling that the player was in a hurry. A number of final notes sounded rather short. But then this may have been the result of a very strict interpretation of the sheet music as it came down to us. From the earliest edition I was able to find - the one from 1637, to the most recent editions very few alterations had been made, but for the number of lines in the staves – in the oldest edition the system consists of six lines in the upper stave and eight in the lower one. The length of a number of the final notes is shorter than would be congruent on account of the regularity one expects in a ballet dance. Besides, a number of final measures, full as we perceive them, contains a supernumerary final note. If all note values are played literally as they were written down, you will indeed hear a performance like the one we heard. As for myself, I would have decided on a rather more free interpretation. So that there were less danger for the ballet dancers to stumble.
After that we heard a sonata in Bb major, the allegro and minuet 1 and 2 parts, and a sonata in g minor by José António Carlos de Seixas (1704-1742). Seixas was a Portuguese composer and organ player, mainly known on account of his clavier sonatas. After having spent his youth in Coimbra he moved to Lisbon, as the organ player of both the Royal Chapel and the Lisbon Cathedral. He was on friendly terms with Domenico Scarlatti, nearly twenty years his senior and who held him in great esteem on account of his skill in playing the clavier. In 1738 both he and Scarlatti were knighted. There is a distinct musical affinity between the two of them.
Finally we listened to J.S. Bach’s extremely solid Prelude and fugue in Bb major from Das wohltemperierte Klavier, part 1.
All in all it was rather a varied programme, but it was evident that it consisted mainly of organ music performed on a clavichord.
Still, the programme might have been even more attractive if to that music from the period of the Empfindsamkeit had been played. In that case the typical possibilities of the clavichord would have been done more justice to. Nevertheless, the player succeeded well in letting his audience hear the way the clavichord sounds when used as an instrument for practising by a conscientious organ player who plays strict music.
Gerard van de Meerakker
Enclosure with NCG Newsletter no. 74
¶ The third Newsletter in 2021.
Still with the urgent call to persuade befriended clavichord owners who are not members to become members.
To point out to piano players in the area that many problems can be avoided by switching to clavichord.
Nominate anyone who is interested to the undersigned, so that I can send a sample number from CI.
More than any growth in membership is urgent. The number of members has unfortunately fallen to 98 in
the past very quiet year, despite the registration of new members. Owners of a clavichord cannot do
without the NCG and CI, if only to support the Society!!!
Last year in the General Members' Meeting it was decided to hold the General Members' Meeting on the third Saturday in
February and the Meet and Play Together day on the third Saturday in May. That has not happened this year due to the pandemic.
The board has decided that the Members' Day will take place on 13 November this year. ¶ This year's General Members' Meeting will take place on November 13 in the Akerendam House,
in Beverwijk, doors open at 10:30 am, concert starts at 2:15 pm.
Address: Velserweg 20, 1942 LD Beverwijk (right opposite the station).
Parking is available nearby:
https://www.google.nl/maps/place/Akerendamlaan,+1942+LZ+Beverwijk/@52.4770713.4.651445,18.28z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x47c5f0608fbb43ad:0x378b0d5f506ea66c!8m2863.d52.4. 6494825?hl=nl
In the appendices a map of the surroundings of Akerendam with indication of the free parking. Due to the pandemic and the appropriate measures, members who wish to attend are requested to register at
Clavichord.akerendam@gmail.com. Please let us know if you would like to a) attend the meeting plus lecture and lunch
and/or b) the concert and with how many people. Checking the QR code will take place at the entrance.
Due to the limited size of the room and the arrangement of lunch, registration is required before November 6!
IN SHORT: sign up and bring QR code
Draft agenda GMM (13-11-2021)
1 Opening and agenda
2 Minutes of the previous GMM (08-02-2020)
3 Annual report of the board to be proposed by the secretary
4 Financial annual report NCG and CI (operating account and balance sheet 2020, budget 2021)
5 Findings of the Audit Committee
6 Election of new members of the Audit Committee
7 Date GMM and Play Together Day next year
8 Future Activities
9 Resignation secretar
10 Re-election Sander Ruys and Jeroen Heijungs, election of new secretary (The board suggests Kees van der Steege)
11 Any other business and closure
Kees van der Steege (1952) lives in Leiden where he is an organ pupil of Erik van Bruggen. In addition to ample
opportunities to practice on the organ of the Waalse Kerk in Leiden, he has a Dick Verwolf clavichord from 2019
for home study. He has always worked in aviation and has extensive experience with copywriting and editing
(and taking minutes). He hopes to be able to support the NCG with this experience.
After the General Members' Meeting, Sander Ruys will give a lecture on two clavichords.
The NCG then offers the members who attended the meeting lunch in Akerendam.
After lunch there is a concert by Dietrich Kollmannsperger. For the program see the attachments.
Dietrich Kollmannsperger, (*1958) is active as a concert organist, clavichord player and organ scientist.
He followed his basic training for piano and organ from 1972 to 1977 with Ingeborg Walter in Tangermünde,
after which he continued to develop independently in the field of organ interpretations.
Especially the problems of performing historical music in a responsible manner receive his special attention,
encouraged by Helmut Perl and Jean-Charles Ablitzer and later, in the field of clavichord interpretations, by Erik van Bruggen.
His repertoire is centered on works from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Since 1979 he has given concerts, mainly on historical organs, in Germany, Poland, Denmark, France, the Netherlands and
Gran Canaria. He has also made several radio and CD recordings in Germany and the Netherlands.
He is also active as an organ researcher, mainly specializing in the works of the organ builders Scherer (17th century),
Joachim Wagner (18th century) and his school.
He is also a consultant on various organ restoration projects and involved in the new edition
of the New Grove Dictionary (1999) and the Bach-Handbuch (Laaber-Verlag, 2007).
¶ Music attachment
As always, the music supplement is provided by Kees Rosenhart. This time two Noels from Dandrieu, well in time for Christmas this year.
NCG . website
On our website www. Clavichordgenootschap.nl members: builders, players, music publishers and other
clavichord interested parties can present themselves with their offers in the SHOP section.
Don't forget to check there regularly! New reports are welcome (further information at info@clavichordgenootschap.nl).
With best regards,
Erik van Bruggen (chairman, tel. 071-5134139),
Tom Brockmeier (secretary, Van Breestraat 38, 1071 ZR Amsterdam, tel. 020-6756882),
Henk Glas (treasurer, tel. 020-6470737), Sander Ruys (administration CI ., tel. 051-7396069) and
Jeroen Heijungs (tel. 06-42572546). The board can be reached via info@clavichordgenootschap.nl
NCG society report October 2021
Newsletter no. 71, February 2021
As usual the Newsletter starts with an appeal to the members, currently 100, to bring in new ones. It is opportune to have membership increased a little.
Last year the General Meeting decided to come together on the third Saturday of February, and to hold the Play-and Get-Together Meeting on the third Saturday in May. A compelling reason for this Newsletter, although there is little news to announce.
It is obvious that, because of the Corona-pandemic, the Play-and Get-Together Meeting as well as other activities have to be postponed. This includes the DCS-Symposium in Wesel and our part in it. Readers are asked to inform the secretary of interesting live-streams. For instance: https://soundcloud.com/adrien-piece/toccata-c1-jp-sweelinck?in=adrien-piece/sets/the-lynar-project
On Saturday October 31st 2020 Menno van Delft gave a concert in the “Toetsenparade” of toetsdestijds.nl at the “Werkgebouw Het Veem,” in Amsterdam (Van Diemenstraat 410). Those attending the concert had reserved seats at 1.5 m’s distance between them … as was still possible in those days … . A program on his recently acquired harpsichord after Labrèche (Bernd Fischer, 1984) and on an original clavichord from 1803 (Kraemer and Sons, Göttingen). The program included works by d’Anglebert, Geminiani and J.S. Bach on harpsichord, C.Ph.E. Bach, Howells (Malcolm’s Vision and Berkeley’s Hunt, 1961) and De Man (Elongated Fingers, 2018).
Gerard van de Meerakker had a look at the sheet music of the latter piece at Donemus’ website:
An exciting work in a present-day idiom. The player’s fingers are elongated by the keys, on which the tangents are attached. As a result, miracles can be performed: fast staccati, Bebung, runs and jumps. An irregular work of music in quadruple and triple time but actually unmensured and so not easy to write down and to be interpreted. Now poignant dissonances, then modest and sensitive. Heavy abrupt chords or arpeggiated chords, fast runs and subtle slow passages alternate. Sometimes in parallel then in contrary motion. The hands seem to hinder one another, or cross each other.
The piece is rhythmically extremely complicated, with quarter, eighth, sixteenth and thirty-second notes, whether or not tied triplets or sextuplets, fast runs. The length of the quarter note is changed now and then. The result being a free and quasi improvised piece of music. What musicality and virtuosity this piece of music demands and how fascinating and exciting it is!
In short: a very Menno-worthy piece!
NEWSLETTER NCG August 2020
As usual the Newsletter starts with an appeal to the members, currently 105, to bring in new ones. It is opportune to have membership increased a little.
Because of the corona pandemic our Play-and Get-Together Meeting had to be cancelled. We do hope our members have overcome the problems in good health. The previously announced DCS-symposium in Wesel had to be postponed, including our part in it. A clavichord symposium of the French Harpsichord Society in Reims had to be postponed as well (www.clavecin-en-france.org).
The Utrecht Early Music Festival published an adapted version of its program with concerts in various towns throughout the country, often given twice, and an extensive on-line program. Very special of course was the clavichord concert by Menno van Delft at the Gertrudis Chapel in Utrecht. It can be listened to by internet during three months from September 1st at: https://www.youtube.com/watch. The concert starts after 25 seconds.
The General Meeting, on Saturday February 8th, at Akerendam at Beverwijk, discussed the problems caused by the aging of our members. We are to seek more publicity. All members are urgently requested to announce both clavichord activities and internet recordings to the board. Members of the auditing committee changed. The secretary of the board announced his last year in this function. The decision was made to meet for the GM on the third Saturday of February and for the Play-and-Get-Together meeting on the third Saturday of May.
After the GM a lecture was given by Mr. Frank van Wijk on Griepenkerl (1782 – 1849), the first Bach-biographer. Griepenkerl published eight volumes of Bach’s organ works. In his introduction to the first volume he stressed the importance of the clavichord.
Mr. Frank van Wijk is organist in Bergen and Alkmaar, and a teacher of organ, harpsichord and clavichord as well.
After luncheon, offered to our members by Akerendam, Mr. Frank van Wijk gave a concert centered on Bach, father and sons: JSB, Sonate d-minor BWV 1003; WFB, Polonaise E-major and e-minor; CPhEB, Sonate g-minor Wq65/17; WFB, Polonaise F-major; WFB, Polonaise f-minor; WA Mozart Sonate B-flat KV333. A captivating, fascinating concert. And as an encore: CPhEB, Abschied vom Silbermannschen Clavier e-minor Wq66.
Tom Brockmeier
Clavichord and Organ: Companions for Centuries, Orgelpark Amsterdam, 7-9 June 2018
(Translation: Ellie Dautzenberg)
A few impressions on the first day
Opening speech
Henk Florie, chairman of the NCG, introduces Hans Fidom, director of the Orgelpark, and expresses his appreciation for his putting the Orgelpark at the disposal of the NCG, to enable it to organize the five-yearly (and third) International Clavichord Symposium. Hans welcomes us in this wonderful research space and we are informed about the aim of the Park and its particular instruments, especially about the Utopa Baroque Organ and the Van Straten Organ, built from original ones, the original of the latter dating back to 1497; they will be played during these three days. Finally he spends a few words on the way both instruments have influenced each other for ages and the significance of this for the performance practice. Below a short impression of each item of the program is described.
Impression 1: Early music and Dynamics
By way of the Van Straten Organ Christophe Deslignes gives us an opportunity to experience how players can make use of a varied wind pressure, indeed accompanied by two co-players who work the wind-bags. Christophe deliberately uses the word “co-players”, since the three of them play together as a team. It brings about a new way of thinking and moving. The instrument in question has its wind-bags next to each other and they are worked by hand. Often early organs possess upper wind-bags, to be worked by the feet. Their functions are the realization of crescendo and vibrato. Next we hear the Van Straten organ in Tablatura trium notarum supra tenorem (1448).
After having played the Portative Clavicytherium (Alamanda de la Nonette) and the Dulce Melos (Estampie Janus) Christophe finally plays compositions from and by Conrad Paumann on the Organetto: Ms Lo Add.29887, de Machault and a trouvere song titled Rotruange nouvelle. The small instrument resounds delightfully in the acoustics of the church. Then Christophe plays continuous repetitions of the sequence, but each time in a slightly different way. I was not bored for a moment; I am moved. Then all at a sudden it comes to an end. As Christophe explains, this instrument seeks to realize a soft and sweet tone, which will work if the wind is allowed into the pipes meticulously.
Questions were asked about the way the team communicates, to which the answer was: by listening to one another; another question was about the place of origin of the Organetto, which is unknown.
Impression 2: Mersenne’s clavichord, organ music in clavichord performance in 16th- and 17th-century France
According to Terence Charlston we may assume that in 16th-century France dozens of of clavichords were in existence. Indeed, none of them was ever retrieved. In Mersenne’s Harmonie Universelle (1636) we find a drawing of an instrument of the kind. On the basis of this drawing Peter Bavington built an instrument (for an elucidation on it I refer to the report of the second day). Terence informed us about the design and the effect of the five bridges on the tone characteristics, which produce differences
among the four octaves. By way of five pieces of music greatly different from each other those present had an opportunity to form an opinion about the result. I was struck by the smallness of the tone and perhaps this was why I could not discriminate the above mentioned differences in tone characteristics adequately. As for me, I had wished to hear 18th-century music played on the instrument, preferably from Francois Couperin’s Suites, being music in which his doleful personality was tuned in to his environs (Philippe Beaussant, 1980) and which is of great ‘Kantabilität’ (RvH).
Impression 3: Tackling Bach’s Violin Works at the Clavichord; exploring a tradition of keyboard improvisation in performance
Joel Speerstra reports on the progress of his investigation, based in the question of JSB’s knowledge of the violin and the clavichord playing. When playing his clavichord at home JSB took care to provide the violin parts of his compositions with suitable harmonies, though not too many. Today’s subject-matter is the similarities in the ways in which the players make the strings sound. In playing the clavichord the player has to exert a certain pressure on the strings by way of the tangents on the keys as long as the tone resounds. In playing the violin the bow is used to exert the pressure. The next question is if the technique of violin playing leads to an understanding of learning to play the clavichord as far as physical technique, producing the tone and interpretation are concerned. On the basis of James J. Gibson’s work ‘The Ecological Approach to Perception, 1979’ Joel explained the matter of the most significant aspects of the project in a captivating manner, now and again freely associating with other areas of eastern and western arts and cultures. This way of approach gives him an opportunity to speak of “micro-dynamics”, as far as the fingers are concerned. In this approach “affordance” is the principal concept. Finally Joel plays some of JSB’s violin parts under the key-note of “Bach improvising at home on the pedal clavichord”. The audience is recommended to consider “the intentional and well-aimed manipulation of the relations between key-tone and harmonic tones to the ears of the audience during the performance” as a factor of micro-dynamics.
Break and Dinner
During dinner dr. Bernard Brauchli (Lausanne, Switzerland) is appointed Honorary Member of the NCG. The laudation is delivered by Menno van Delft.
Concert/ Ulrike Davidsson & Joel Speerstra
Part 1: Joel Speerstra
UTOPA BAROQUE ORGAN: Vincent Lübeck (LüBWV 11) and Johann Sebastian Bach (BWV 1080)
Prelude in d minor (LübWV)
Die Kunst der Fuge. Contrapunctus 1 and 2: Fugue, Rectus ; Contrapunctus 3 and 4: Fugue, Inversus
Listening to the prelude was a delightful experience. I was touched by the highly North German intonation of the pipes and I greatly enjoyed the suitable registration.
While listening to the Contrapuncti I noted down my most personal observations like: quite jumpy, not in a singing, vocal way (twice); restless lines; not the proper organ for this kind of music or not a suitable, transparant registration.
Part 2: Ulrike Davidsson & Joel Speerstra
DOUBLE CLAVICHORD: continuation of Die Kunst der Fuge (BWV 1080)
The concert was continued on the Double Clavichord, the instrument that had been introduced already during Joel’s lecture. I quote from my notes: the performance is too hasty to produce a fine tone; I cannot detect “connecting tones”; affects are not made the most of; when is the instrument going to sing? All these observations were made from my own personal perspective as a result of Bernhard Klapprott’s Keynote on “Aspects of Vocality in playing the Clavichord”.
Rob van Haarlem, Ede June 13, 2018
¶
On 11 February 2017
we had the general meeting for all the members of the NCG.
At this occasion Henk Glas was elected as our new treasurer.
One of the topics that were discussed is, that increased costs of packaging
and postage make it unavoidable to raise the subscription price for CI. See
colofon of CI for details.
This annual meeting was not only consecrated to busines, but also to the clavichord.
Board-member Erik van Bruggen gave a lecture on the right way of teaching the
clavichord.
And Artem Belogurov (a recent graduee from the class of Menno van Delft) gave
a concert, in which he demonstrated impressive virtuosity and musicality. He
played works by the brothers Emanuel, Friedeman and Chr. Friedrich Bach, and
works by G. Benda, J. Müthel and F.J. Haydn. He played a Heinrich Silbermann
copy, made by Sander Ruys.
¶
On March 15. the members
of the NCG had an opportunity to participate in a masterclass by Menno
van Delft.
¶
On March 26.Sally
Fortino played in our annual Spring-concert, also on the Heinrich Silbermann
copy, again supplied by Sander Ruys (board member of NCG, clavichord maker and
pianis/clavichordist).
Mrs. Fortino played works by little known composers, and not only her outstanding
playing should be mentioned here, but also the fact that even apart from that,
it became obvious again that there are many little known composers who deserve
an advocate like her.
She played works by J.G. Kittel, S. Schmiedt, C.C. Agte, A.J. Steinfeldt, W.F.
Halter, J.W. Häsler, and F. Sander.
The location of the concert was: the Remonstrant Church in Alkmaar, an attractive
historical town in the province of "North Holland" (not too far from
Amsterdam).
This church posesses a pristine 18 C. interior, including a beautiful organ.
The church archives mention that in 1725 the board presented the church organist
with a double manual pedal clavichord. The organ is still there; the clavichord
alas is not.
¶
The NCG will have it's
6th. lustrum late this year.
We are proud to announce that in celebration of this 30th aniversary, a Symposium
will take place, from 7 - 9 June 2018, in the Organ Park (het Orgelpark) in
Amsterdam.
Director of the organ Park, Hans Fidom, has offered us very favourable conditions
and hospitality, to an extent that far surpass the possibilities that a "petite"
organisation as NCG would have on it's own.
The title of this symposium will be: "Clavichord and Organ, companions
for centuries".
The symposium will strive to cover the period from the late middle ages to the
first half of the 18th C. The intention is to highlight the role of the pedal
clavichord, in lectures, instrument demonstrations, concerts and an exhibition
of instruments.
The Organ Park already has a reconstruction of the Van Straten organ from 1479
and will soon also posess a reconstruction of a 1749 Zacharias Hildebrandt organ.
These instruments will also highlight in the symposium; they mark the historical
period that we want to cover.
The programme is as yet only partly scheduled. We are still contacting lecturers,
scholars, musicians, and clavichord makers.
Please schedule this symposium in your agenda!
Details will follow in the forthcoming CI.
best Regards, Driek Florie, chairman NCG
Reported by Tom Brockmeier (October 2015)
¶
Play-and-Get-Together,
9 May 2015
The weather certainly did not suggest a pick-nick on the dyke in front of the
church of Ravenswaay, our annual meeting place on the second Saturday in May.
It was warm in the church, though, and the participants kept on coming. The
twenty visitors brought even 14 clavichords, breaking two records in one day.
The meeting began with a small lecture by Koen Vermeij. He told about the Hubert-copy
he had built for Nelly van Ree, and had inherited from here since then. He had
made the technical drawing after only a photograph plus short description in
a Berlin catalogue of 1922. The original instrument got lost in the second World
War. Koen granted the instrument now to the Genootschap, for use by students
for one year at a time. Sander Ruys will take care of the instruments repair,
maintenance and administration. Koen and Sander then played together on the
instrument a Sonatine by Türk including the Adagio cantabile named Sei
gegrüsst, mein schmeichelndes Klavier. Koen donated the drawing to Sander
and to those present the English version of his Short History of the Clavichord.
The new president of the Genootschap, Henk Florie, thanked Koen for his generous
gift of the instrument as well as of the booklet.
After this, the participants presented themselves and their clavichords. The
first instrument on demonstration dated from 1975, built from a Carl Fudge-kit,
small, in mean-tone tuning. As there were some children present last year, the
owner brought pieces for children by Percy Whitehead, and Abasken by the Flemish
composer Jos Wuytack, a student of Carl Orff.
The second clavichord on show was an opus zero by Koen Vermeij, a Zuckerman-kit,
triple fretted, shortened octave, and broken keys later built into it by the
owner. He played some Valerius' Gedenck-Klanck and an air-de-court by Sweelinck,
in the afternoon followed by the Variations Auf die Mayerin by Froberger.
The president, Henk Florie, showed an instrument by Dick Verwolf after an German
one from ca. 1650, triple fretted and shortened octave. Not-fitted for Sweelinck,
he said, but then a Sweelinck Toccata was played on this instrument by another
participant. He then inteerpreted parts of a Suite by Danglebert, on three different
instruments
The next member introducing himself studies instrument-making in Ghent. He plans
to make a Friederici during his third year there.
On another instrument by Dick Verwolf, in fact the upper part of the pedal-clavichord
owned by Erik van Bruggen, the Almande trycottée from the Susanne van
Soldt Manuscript was played. A tricotté was originally a cheerful folk-dance.
In the afternoon this was followed by some other pieces from the same book.
The mean-tone tuning fitted the music very well.
Suzana Mendes very beautifully played variations by Antonio de Cabezon on her
clavichord made by Geert Karman, and Sweelinck on Koen Vermeij's Hubert. She
also announced her clavichord-course in Portugal, October this year.
Sweelinck's work sounded very different on the Pisaurensis copy by Sander Ruys.
The interpreter then played some parts of J.K.F. Fischer's suite Uranie on Suzana's
Karman, plus two parts of J.S. Bach's 5th French Suite.
Again the Pisaurensis was heard, this time played by Sander Ruys himself: the
Corriente Italiana by Cabanilles.
The demonstration was continued with two instruments by the same maker, first
one after a kit of the Early Music shop, the other recently made after the J.H.
Silbermann, Strassburg 1775, under the supervision of Sander Ruys.
Koen Vermeij brought an instrument made by himself, sold, and recently bought
back. He showed his art of improvisation. The next participant improvised on
his Klop from the 80's
The next instrument was also made by Koen Vermeij. The owner played My Lady
Carey's Dumpe and a Gibbons Pavan in the afternoon. Also in the afternoon a
XIIIth century Maria-song and a song by Dufay were presented, accompanied on
this instrument, plus a text by Novalis sung by the composer of music going
with it.
The next participant played a extensive fugue of his own making, on his own
five-octaves Hubert copy: very impressive. The last visitor to arrive at the
meeting had brought a small travel-clavichord made by a well-known maker of
all sorts of instruments. A menuet was played on it.
We heard and saw a wide scale of instruments and music interpreted by so many
players: a very succesfull meeting.
¶
Clavichord activities
during Fortepiano Festival in Amsterdam, 13-14 October 2015
The annual Fortepiano Festival in Museum Geelvinck (artistic director Michael
Tsalka) focuses on the playing of the square pianos and fortepianos from its
museum collection. In collaboration with the NCG, also clavichord activities
are programmed, such as a duo concert on two clavichords.
The evening concerto was given by Anna Maria McElwain from Finland and Dóra
Pétery from Hungary: "Elation on two Clavichords." They played
two copies of the 1775 J.H. Silbermann (Strassburg), one built in French walnut
by Sander Ruys, the other under his supervision by our member Henk Glas, in
cherry-wood.The concert took place in the beautiful "blue room" of
the Geelvinck Museum, where the instruments stood right in front of the impressive
and very fitting 18th century wall paintings. The concert started with the Duetto
in E flat major by Johann Gottlieb Müthel. The questions and answers in
the music came forward in a very clear way. In Clementi's Sonata in B flat major
the clavichords sounded very beautiful, such a transparent interpretation. After
a break the program was dedicated to Mozart's music. First the Andante and variations
in G major on Sander's instrument, and then, again on both instruments, his
Sonata for two keyboards in D major. A very clear, precise and virtuoso interpretation
with the sound of both instruments fitting perfectly in the beautiful room.
The next morning the two performers together gave a masterclass clavichord-playing
to three students. The first two female students from the Moscow Conservatory
never had touched a clavichord before, but they could play the piano or harpsichord.
After an hour each of sitting straight and high but relaxed, letting the arm-weight
do the work and touching the keys at their fronts, etc., they presented a very
good sound with ease. The third student, from the Conservatory of Amsterdam,
already knew his way at the clavichord. With him the interpretation of a Haydn
Sonata was discussed, with remarkable result and expressive playing. A changing
group of visitors attended these demonstrations
¶
Annual members'
day, Utrecht 2016
The Annual General Meeting for 2016 will take place on Saturday 13 February
in the Pieterskerk, Utrecht. The formal part of the meeting will start at 11.00.
The concert in the afternoon will be given by Dalyn Cook. In August 2014, she
was awarded first prize in the International Clavichord Competition at the Nordic
Historical Keyboard Festival in Kuopio, Finland.
Later, in Spring, a concert will be given by Sally Fortino. The date has still
to be set, but it will take place at the stately Akerendam in Beverwijk.
More information will follow.
¶
Website
Please visit www.clavichordgenootschap.nl for viewing the latest announcements
and the shop section with ads. You will also find an NCG list with names of
clavichord teachers and clavichord makers, the photo gallery, and the sections
with sheet music and clavichord sounds.
¶
Report of the annual
members' day, Utrecht 2015
- On Saturday 14 February, the NCG had its annual meeting in the Chapter room
of the medieval Pieterskerk. As regular topics of the AGM, the annual reports
by the secretary, treasurer and CI administrator were presented and approved.
The annual membership's fees and Clavichord International subscription rates
had remained unchanged for many years; for each a modest increase of €
5 was proposed and approved (see Colophon CI). After 12 years of chairmanship,
Barend Kraal was no longer available for a new term as board member and was
abundantly thanked for his dedicated contributions. Two new board members were
elected by acclamation: Sander Ruys and Henk Florie, the latter as the new president.
Plans for future activities were discussed.
- At the end of the morning, Sander Ruys gave a presentation about his recent
examination of the clavichord by Adam Gottfried Oehme (Freiberg, 1778) in the
museum of Schloss Pillnitz near Dresden, Saxony. Some years before, Sander had
already made a copy of the Oehme clavichord (c. 1760) in the collection of the
Gemeentemuseum in The Hague. An exceptional feature of the latter instrument
is the presence of an empty box under the entire bottom of the instrument for
the accommodation of a lower manual instrument. Adam Gottfried Oehme (1719-1789)
was Gottfried Silbermann's last apprentice in Freiberg and there became his
successor as organ and keyboard-instrument maker.
The case of the clavichord in Schloss Pillnitz is of maple wood, red-stained
and varnished. On its right side, it is seriously damaged. The front side is
made of one piece, with a sawn opening for the keywell. Various parts of the
instrument are missing, such as the lid, the 54 keys (C - f3), most of the strings
and much of the two rosettes. On the nameboard, the hand-written label mentions
"Adam Gottfried Oehme orgel u. Instrument Macher in Freijberg den 15. Mäij
1778". The slots in the rack are evenly spaced, which points to an unfretted
clavichord (the earlier instrument in The Hague is diatonically fretted with
a compass of C - d3). The belly rail has four rectangular windows, arranged
two by two on top of each other. The bridge is slightly different from that
of the instrument in The Hague. The latter is shaped after the so-called Saxonian
walking-stick, whereas in Schloss Pillnitz the bass end is slightly curved inward.
Interestingly, in the nearby Saxonian museum of Markneukirchen two anonymous
large clavichords (one by Gottfried Silbermann?) also have this slightly S-shaped
type of bridge as well as the same positioning of the two rosettes on the soundboard,
with similar rosette decorations. In the Schloss Pillnitz clavichord, notch
marks besides bridge pins point to the former presence of open-wound bass strings.
A special feature is the bridge-like bar under the strings along the edge of
the tuning pin rail. Openings in the sound board reveal a thickness of only
2 mm.
In short, quite a few differences were found with Oehme's earlier instrument
in The Hague; also interesting similarities to other anonymous clavichords in
Saxony were noticed.
- After lunch, the program was continued with a clavichord recital by Zsombor
Tóth-Vajna (Hungary) and Machiko Suto (Japan). After their conservatory
studies on organ, harpsichord and piano in their home countries, they are now
at the Conservatory in Amsterdam for advanced harpsichord and clavichord studies
with Menno van Delft. In this recital, they used a clavichord made by Gerard
van de Meerakker (Rosmalen, 2007) after that of Christian Gottlob Hubert (Ansbach,
1772), an unfretted instrument with a compass of FF - f3.
For his part of the program, Zsombor Tóth-Vajna had chosen works from
Böhm, Buxtehude and Bartók, all based on song melodies. From Georg
Böhm he played the choral "Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten"
with seven variations. In the variations, rich decorations of the choral melody
were heard, with expressive dialogues between left and right hand and, in the
last variation, exciting alternations between slow and very fast phrases. From
Dieterich Buxtehude then came the choral suite "Auf meinen lieben Gott"
(BuxWV 179). The parts Allemande, Double, Sarabande, Courante and Gigue were
played with a splendid variation in mood and rhythm. From his Hungarian compatriot
Béla Bartók, Zsombor played five pieces from Volume 2 "For
Children". By explaining that they all have to do with Love, he gave a
wink to Valentine's Day, that very Saturday. Such beautiful music for clavichord,
these contrasting short songs without words!
In the second part of the program, Machiko Suto started with the Preludium,
Fuga & Allegro in E flat major (BWV 998) from Johann Sebastian Bach. She
explained that it was composed for lute or keyboard instrument, the clavichord
thus being a great choice. The sonorously singing resonance in the bass of this
particular clavichord greatly contributed to the musical performance of the
composition, especially in the Allegro. Next came the Klaviersonate in c minor
(Hob. ??/ 20) by Joseph Haydn, being a long-cherished wish of Machiko for a
performance on clavichord. And indeed, during the playing of the Moderato, Andante
con moto & Finale allegro, the audience could witness how Machiko's heart
sympathizes with this music. With agile fingers and technical virtuosity she
let the many short notes sparkle in the descant and used the full keyboard compass
up to f3.
At the end of their program, Machiko and Zsombor together played the Rondo Allegro
from the Duetto in F (Op.18 no.6) by Johann Christian Bach. It was a sort of
test for the clavichord; it gloriously survived. After a "storm" of
applause, the audience was treated by a four-hands encore from Daniel Gottlob
Türk, appropriately entitled "Es toben Sturm und Gewitter"!
Fully satisfied, the audience could thereafter relax with tea and coffee.
¶
Play-and-Get-Together,
May 2015
This year, Saturday 9 May is our day for the annual 'Play-and-Get-Together'
event in the 17th-century village church of Ravenswaay on the river Rhine. All
interested clavichordists are cordially invited to bring their instrument and
join the party from 11 - 16 h. As a special program feature, Koen Vermeij will
give a presentation about his reconstruction of the Hubert travel clavichord
(c. 1776) that became lost at the end of World War II. He made it in 1985 for
Nelly van Ree - Bernard, who left it to him after her death in 2010. Now he
has donated it to the NCG. It will be lent to motivated conservatory students
who do not yet have a clavichord of their own.
¶
Clavichord activities
during Fortepiano Festival in Amsterdam, 7-21 October 2015
The annual Fortepiano Festival in Museum Geelvinck (artistic director Michael
Tsalka) focuses on the playing of the square pianos and fortepianos from its
museum collection. In collaboration with the NCG, also clavichord activities
are programmed, such as a duo concert on two clavichords. For future details
see www.geelvinck.nl/muziek/concertagenda/.
¶
Website
Please visit www.clavichordgenootschap.nl for viewing the latest announcements
and the shop section with ads. You will also find an NCG list with names of
clavichord teachers and clavichord makers, the photo gallery, and the sections
with sheet music and clavichord sounds.
¶
Impression of the 'Play-and-Get-Together'
day, May 2014
On the lovely spring morning of Saturday 10 May, about fifteen clavichord lovers
with six divergent instruments got together in the 17th-century village church
of Ravenswaay on the river Rhine. The morning session started with coffee and
a short introduction by each of the clavichord owners.
There were two small clavichords. One was made after an anonymous North-German
original; it was double-fretted with a compass of C/E - c3, and tuned in mean
tone temperament. It beautifully sounded in the performance of a Fantasy from
the Tabulatuur-boeck by Anthonie van Noordt (Amsterdam, 1659), and in variations
of the player himself on the anonymous medieval Tonus peregrinus.
The other small one was triple-fretted and made after an anonymous original
in Stockholm (c. 1700), with a few adaptations such as a damper board, and split
accidentals in the short octave of C/E - c3. On this instrument with twined
bass strings we heard Les Tendres Plaintes by Jean Philippe Rameau, and the
first movement of a sonata by Johan Helmich Roman (the Swedish 'Emanuel Bach').
One of the members brought two instruments, built by himself. The smaller one,
double-fretted (d & a free) with a compass of C - e3, was after the anonymous
German one (first half 18th century) in The Hague. It was used for playing the
Aria Prima from Johann Pachelbel's Hexachordum Apollinis. The other one was
an unfretted and five-octave (FF - f3) clavichord, made after that of Johann
Heinrich Silbermann (Strasbourg, 1775). It was presented with a few aria variations
from suites by Fischer and Handel. Because both clavichords were tuned the same,
they could be assembled and played as a double-manual instrument.
There was an unfretted instrument, made by Geert Karman (1993) after Friederici,
with a compass of C - c3 and extra octave strings in the bass octave. We heard
a fuga by Buxtehude, and also Les Barricades Mysterieuses - with a prominent
bass melody - by François Couperin.
Finally, there was an unfretted, five-octave clavichord, made by the owner after
that of Christian Gottlob Hubert (1772) in Bad Krozingen. The owner played parts
from a sonata by C.P.E. Bach, and a sonata in classical style composed by himself.
Also members who came without a clavichord had ample opportunity to try the
various instruments and to join the playing. Solo playing was alternated with
duo or ensemble performances. The owner of the Friederici clavichord used it
to accompany his family in singing psalms 81 and 116 in the 16th-century Goudimel
setting. His youngest kid (11 years old) opened the informal afternoon concert
by playing a modern piece on it: "Dancing mosquitos"!
On the Silbermann clavichord, another member played parts from the Aria Prima
by Johann Jacob de Neufville (Nuremberg, 1684 - 1712).
We heard parts from a Serenade by Mozart in an arrangement for treble recorder
and accompanied by the triple-fretted clavichord (the only available one tuned
at a1 = 440 Hz!).
Two members presented a recent work of their own for soprano and baritone, with
accompaniment on the Hubert clavichord. It was based on a poem by Joseph Freiherr
von Eichendorff (1788-1857).
Another member used the above-mentioned "double-manual" clavichord
assembly for his performance of two "Grounds" by Henry Purcell. The
upper melody, played on the smaller and louder instrument, beautifully came
out above the bass line played on the larger and more sonorous instrument underneath.
The Hubert clavichord was used again for a Toccata by Froberger and, finally,
for the Allemande from the second French Suite by J.S. Bach.
We can look back at a most enjoyable day.
Report on the concert by Peter Sykes in Beverwijk, May 2014
On Sunday 25 May, Peter Sykes gave a clavichord matinée in the country-house
Akerendam in the village of Beverwijk, close to Haarlem and Amsterdam. He is
a renowned performer on historical keyboard instruments and president of the
Boston Clavichord Society. This recital was part of his European tour with concerts
in England, The Netherlands, France and Germany.
The House Akerendam has a gorgeous 18th-century garden room with wall-paintings
representing the Four Seasons and with decorations such as musical instruments.
In this room at 2.30 p.m., the audience was eagerly awaiting a program of baroque
and classic music, to be played on two different clavichords after Christian
Gottlob Hubert. One was made by Koen Vermeij after slightly smaller originals
from 1784 and 1787. It is a double-fretted, five-octave (FF - f3) instrument
with unfretted keys for a and d in the range of f0 - f3. It has an oaken case,
supplemented with other woods such as maple and cherry. It sings with a relatively
firm voice. The other clavichord was made by Sander Ruys after the original
from 1772, unfretted with a compass of FF - g3. It is of cherry-wood and sounds
with a slightly softer but singing voice.
Peter Sykes started the first part of his recital on the fretted clavichord
by playing the Toccata III in G major by Johann Jakob Froberger, a piece with
a powerful sound. He continued with a Suite in C major by Dieterich Buxtehude.
It contains the parts Allemande, Courante, Sarabande & Gigue, all played
in an accessible, narrative and captivating way. Then came the Sonate in g minor
(Wq. 65/17 from 1746) by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, with a lot of virtuosic
passages in its opening Allegro and concluding Allegro assai. In between, the
Adagio was played with wonderful tranquillity and full attention to its intricate
details.
For the second half of his program, Peter Sykes used the unfretted instrument.
He played two Bagatelles by Ludwig van Beethoven (Op.33), namely No. IV "Allegretto,
quasi Andante - Con una certa espressione parlante" and No.I "Andante
grazioso, quasi Allegretto. How suitable for clavichord these works are! The
recital was concluded by the famous Andante & Variationen in f minor by
Joseph Haydn. Peter Sykes played it with extraordinary expressivity and without
haste; the usual performance on the fortepiano - with its larger sound volume
and its sustaining pedal - was not missed at all…
It was a beautifully composed program that kept the attention fully captivated
for the whole hour. According to the habit of the Boston Clavichord Society,
the audience could show their appreciation by abundantly flapping their program
folders instead of hand-clapping!
Future Annual General Meeting: 14 February 2015
On Saturday 15 February, the NCG will have its AGM in the Pieterskerk, Utrecht.
The formal part of the meeting will start at 11.00.
At about 12.00, Sander Ruys will give a presentation about his studies on a
clavichord by Adam Gottfried Oehme (Freiberg, 1776) in Schloss Pillnitz, Dresden.
He will compare it with the other surviving clavichord by Oehme (c. 1760) in
the Municipal Museum of The Hague.
At 14.15, after lunch, a public clavichord recital will be given by Machiko
Suto and Zsombor Tóth-Vajna from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. They
will play a varied program with solo works by A. de Cabezón (Romance
"Para quién crié yo cabellos"), J.S. Bach (two lute
Suites), C.P.E. Bach and Haydn. As a final surprise, they will play together
on two clavichords.
Future 'Play-and-Get-Together' event: 9 May 2015
As usual, this annual members' meeting is set to the second Saturday in May.
Further details will be announced on our website.
Website
Please visit www.clavichordgenootschap.nl for viewing the latest announcements,
the shop section with ads, an NCG list with names of clavichord teachers and
clavichord makers, the photo gallery, and the sections with sheet music and
clavichord sounds.
- At the end of the morning, Jos van der Giessen gave a presentation about
late-medieval clavichords. The instrument he brought was made by Andreas Hermert
after the 15th-century description of the Erlanger Traktat with supplemental
information from the likewise 15th-century manuscript by Arnaut van Zwolle.
The resulting clavichord has a compass of 2½ octaves (B - f2) at octave
pitch, a1 = 932 Hz. It has 9 pairs of iron strings, all of the same length and
diameter, and is fretted three- to fourfold (with unfretted seconds and minor
thirds). The keyboard has a symmetrical outlay with the d1 key right in the
middle. The soundboard is situated below the keylevers and covers the whole
bottom area, with a beautifully made rosette just right of the f2 keylever.
A short and straight bridge runs perpendicular to the strings. The bridge is
high and thus gives room to the keylevers between string band and soundboard,
The instrument is tuned in the Pythagorean temperament, with the fifths all
but one pure and the wolf fifth between b and f#. The thirds of f#, c#, g# and
d# are pure as well. Inevitably, this triggered a discussion about the choice
between Pythagorean and mean tone temperament for an appropriate interpretation
of early music.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and Jos van der Giessen appeared
to be a convincing ambassador of both the instrument and the world of 14th-
and 15th-century music. It was an exciting experience to listen to its clear
and still sound, and to the delicate, occasionally swinging performance of music
of the Faenza Codex, the Buxheimer Orgelbuch and keyboard arrangements of vocal
music by Guillaume de Machault and Francesco Landini.
- After lunch, the program was continued by a clavichord recital by Susan Alexander-Max.
After her graduation at the Juilliard School of Music in New York, she moved
to London where, for many years, she was professor of piano at the Guildhall
School of Music & Drama. She became renowned for her recitals in Europe
and America on the fortepiano and the clavichord. She is the founder of The
Music Collection, a chamber ensemble for music around 1750-1850 on historic
instruments. The ensemble initiated an educational program for the promoting
of classical music at secondary schools in the UK.
For this recital, Susan Alexander-Max used a clavichord made by Gerard van de
Meerakker (Rosmalen, 2007) after that of Christian Gottlob Hubert (Ansbach,
1772), an unfretted instrument with a compass of FF - f3. During her concert,
with works by J.S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach and J. Haydn, she let the instrument sing
like a theorbe, with a rich and expressive sound especially in the bass region.
In her introduction, Susan Alexander-Max explained her affection to Johann Sebastian
Bach's music with its great depth and perfection and with its balance between
emotion and ratio. She characterized the music by his son, Carl Philipp Emanuel,
as a bridge between his father's music and that by Haydn, and as a bridge to
the Romantic Age as well.
First we heard the Aria Variata alla Maniera Italiana (BW V 989), composed by
J.S.Bach in 1714. The aria was played in a slow but moving way with beautiful
ornaments and Bebung along the melody line. Then the variations followed: the
first four revealing a broad spectrum of rhythmic variations and cheerful expressivity,
the next two of a more serious and meditative character and the last four again
played in a spirit of vivace and molto allegro. With the da capo playing of
the aria she realized a beautiful ending to the composition.
Next came the Württemberg Sonata No. 1 in A minor (Wq 49), composed by
C.P.E. Bach in 1742. This piece evoked a totally different atmosphere. The first
part Moderato started with a sonorous bass line in dialogue with a whimsical
soprano. It was followed by a soft and tender Andante with slow and melodious
jumps. As could be expected, the final Allegro assai gave an outburst of rapid
running with thunderstorm and lightning, Sturm und Drang was all around.
An occasional clavichord string was retuned and, again, we entered into a different
world: the Sonata in A moll major (Hob XVI: 43) by Joseph Haydn, elegant court
music composed in 1773. Usually, this piece is played on the fortepiano but
Susan prefers to play it on the clavichord with its different color shades in
the tonal range. Indeed, the various parts of Moderato, Menuetto - Trio - Menuetto
da capo and Rondo presto each revealed a colorful interplay of separate figures
and patterns.
The program was rounded off by again a work of J.S. Bach: the English Suite
No.3 (BWV 808), composed in 1715. Susan played it in a free and swinging way,
with rich contrasts between parts played at slow, moderate or fast tempi, and
with much sense of dynamics. It was a fine and convincing illustration of her
affection to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach as already explained at the
beginning of her recital!
A warm
and well-deserved applause led to an encore, a Minuet by Mozart, a charming
little jewel.
¶Play-and-Get-Together, May
2014
This year, Saturday 10 May is our day for the annual 'Play-and-Get-Together'
event in the 17th-century village church of Ravenswaay on the river Rhine. All
interested clavichordists are cordially invited to bring their instrument and
join the party from 11 - 16 h (see further www.clavichordgenootschap.nl). Details:
¶ NCG recital May 2014
On Sunday 25 May at 14.30 h, Peter Sykes will give a clavichord recital in the
18th-century country-house Akerendam in the village of Beverwijk, close to Haarlem
and Amsterdam. He is a renowned performer on historical keyboard instruments
and president of the Boston Clavichord Society. His program promises works by
Froberger, Buxtehude, C.P.E. Bach, Haydn and Beethoven. He will play a Hubert
clavichord made by Koen Vermeij. For further details see www.clavichordgenootschap.nl
and www.fondssluytermanvanloo.nl/over-ons/akerendam/.
¶ Website
Please visit www.clavichordgenootschap.nl for viewing the latest announcements
and the shop section with ads. You will also find an NCG list with names of
clavichord teachers and clavichord makers, the photo gallery, and the sections
with sheet music and clavichord sounds.