The Historical Harpsichord [Hardcover]

Howard Schott (Editor)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 249 pages
• Publisher: Pendragon Pr (August 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0945193750
• ISBN-13: 978-0945193753
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,756,753 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The evolution of this remarkable stringed instrument, October 10, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Historical Harpsichord (Hardcover)

This Historical Harpsichord, Volume 4 provides the reader with a scholarly, meticulous, detailed look at the evolution of this remarkable stringed instrument. Individual chapters are divided by nation, addressing different styles of harpsichord and how they were used in Italy, Southern Netherlands, France, Germany, and England. An extensive inlay of black-and-white photographs feature both lavishly painted instruments and works of classical art that featured harpsichords. Of special interest is "A Fable Deconstructed: The 1770 Taskin at Yale" by Richard Rephann. Enhanced with illustrations, a bibliography, a list of the illustrated instruments and their locations, The Historical Harpsichord is strongly recommended as a thorough, factual, and fascinating history. Also highly recommended for in-depth scholars of the harpsichord are the early volumes in this seminal series: Reconstructing The Harpsichord (0918728290); The Metallurgy of 17th- And 18th-Century Music Wire (0918728541), and Bartolomeo Cristofori as Harpsichord Maker (0945192262).

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars WARNING, no color photographs in this art reference book..., October 2, 2002

By 

Baroque Music Lover (Pebble Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Historical Harpsichord (Hardcover)

I ordered this book August 28, 1998, it arrived well over four years later (publishing date delayed). Well, the publishing date should have been delayed even more.

There is not a single color photo in this book, a homely object without even a colored dust jacket to adorn it. It is a disappointment and incredible irritation to receive an art reference book without colored photographs.

The grainy black and white photos that illustrate (without color) harpsichord decoration are poor quality reproductions and many exist in clearer form (and color) in other reference books.

So few books are published on the harpsichord topic, it was a tragedy for the publisher to waste this opportunity. Anyone interested in this topic would have gladly paid the premium for color photographs.