Harpsichord by Ruckers, I

This is an extraordinary transposing double-manual harpsichord original combined with a virginal, made by Ioannes Ruckers in 1632, later converted into an aligned and ravalé double-manual harpsichord. The ravalement of the instrument was most likely the work of the Antwerp maker Ioannes Petrus Bull. The soundboard painting is of high quality. The harpsichord originally had two manuals, one of which was transposing. The upper manual extends from C/E to c’’’ (45 notes), the lower manual from C/E to f’’’ (50 notes), but sounds a fourth lower, allowing therefore for a transposition downwards of a fourth. The virginal has manual extends from C/E to c’’’ (45 notes)

Compass: two 5 octaves and 2 notes keyboards (FF-g''')

Keyboard: naturals in bones, sharps in ebony

Registers: 2x8', 1x4' and a harp stop

Dimensions: L 248 cm / W 98 cm

Literature: Boalch 3 remarks: All that is known about the instrument comes from B2. B2 says 'It was in Ghent in 1972'. He adds a reference EM R, and says that the instrument has an IR rose. Page 596.
P. VANDERVELLEN, "The Golden Age of Flemish Harpsichord Making - a Study of the MIM's Ruckers Instruments", 2017, p. 16-17

Chris Maene Collection number: CM 67 111

Location: 1 - Museum "Piano's Maene" Brussels