List of Keyboards
Harpischord by J & A Kirkman
Technical description: Oak case veneered on the exterior with mahogany panels surrounded by cross-grained mahogany banding and light stringing, with an exterior bottom molding of mahogany; the interior veneered in figured maple or sycamore with dark stringing; the keywell veneered in walnut burl, surrounded by cross-grain walnut banding, with dark and light stringing; lid of solid mahogany; on a stand of four square legs with stretchers, wooden casters; FF, GG-f3, 2x8 ', 1x4', buff stop on the back 8 '; ivory naturals with molded sycamore fronts, ebony accidentals; three-rail keyframe with front guide pins; jacks of pear with single flag dampers, bristle springs, quill plectra, and staples to limit rear travel of tongues; registers controlled by four brass knobs that protrude through the nameborad, and by a "machine stop" pedal that moves the front 8' and the 4' registers to their off position as long as it is depressed; cast metal rose in soundboard. Credit (Laurence Libin)
The name Kirkman had many different spellings. For ease of search, this website is using one spelling. For precise spelling on this instrument please consult the location.
Harpsichord by Kirkman, J & A
This double-manual harpsichord has a compass of F1, G1–f3, (without F♯1) and three sets of strings. The brass stop knobs in the keywell control (from left to right) the harp stop, lute stop, 4ft strings on the lower manual, 8ft strings playable from both manuals (with ‘dog leg’ jacks), and the 8ft strings on the lower manual. This gives the player a wide range of tone colours and volumes to utilise for contrasts in timbre. There are two pedals, the left being a ‘machine’ working in conjunction with a stop lever in the left hand key cheek.The right pedal controlled a ‘nag's head’ swell device which is no longer operable. The instrument is veneered in a range of woods, including mahogany panels with sycamore stringing, walnut with sycamore stringing and burr walnut veneer framed with kingwood. The soundboard rose is cast and gilded, showing King David playing a harp, surrounded by a collection of instruments and the initials ‘IK’. The music desk is typical, with candle ledges at either end which can be slid forwards so that the light shines on the music
Credit: Royal College of Music
The name Kirkman had many different spellings. For ease of search, this website is using one spelling. For precise spelling on this instrument please consult the location.
Harpsichord by Kirckman J & A
Acquired by the museum in 1998, it remains a rare and celebrated treasure in New Zealand's musical history
Photo Credit: The Zillah Castle and Ronald Castle Collection of Musical Instruments, (2), collection of Auckland War Memorial Museum, 1998.60.2 Wikicommons
The name Kirkman had many different spellings. For ease of search, this website is using one spelling. For precise spelling on this instrument please consult the location.
Clavichord attr. Kintzing
This instrument is one of two known clavichords made by Kintzing, who also worked with the cabinetmaker David Roentgen. It has an unusual feature that uses a second separate row of tangents that are activated by knobs on either side of the keyboard. When engaged, these tangent raise the strings and stay in contact with them. When the keys tangents are played the sound of the strings is prolonged. This feature is known as a pantalon stop and was inspired by the popularity of the hammered dulcimer and the famous eighteenth century virtuoso Pantaleon Hebenstreit.
Spinet by Keene, S
This late 17th-century English walnut spinet has a curved (rather than angled) tail and compass of G1/B1 bass short octave to d3 (52 notes). The short octave is a way of maximizing the usefulness of all the notes, so in the bass where chromatic notes would not have been required by the music of the time, these notes are tuned differently to what one might expect. The lowest note, which looks like B1, is tuned to G1, C♯ plays A1 and E sounds B1, giving a full diatonic scale of G major. This instrument is one of the surviving spinets by Stephen Keene, which range in date from 1685 to c. 1715.
Credit: Royal College of Music
