English Harpsichord “L. Theewes”

The Lodewijk Theewes Single Manual harpsichord was originally a 'claviorgan', combining a true harpsichord with a small, wood-piped organ in its complete form. While the conjunction of organ and harpsichord in fascinating, equally important is the acoustic and structure of the harpsichord itself. It is a sound unlike Italian instruments that would have dominated Europe in the same period, and was a transition to later English and Northern European instruments. The Theewes instrument is the only extant example of a pre-1600 instrument of northern European provenance and is known to have been an instrument used by Byrd. It is one of the few clues we have as to how English and northern European composers would have heard the music they created. Commissioned: Malcolm Rose.