Harpsichord maintenance

I have maintained harpsichords for a period of 28 years. All my private harpsichords are quilled with bird’s feathers. When voicing other instruments, I recommend Delrin plectra for a variety of reasons. I have extensive experience in voicing with this material.

My goals are to produce durable plectra that enable the instrument to speak as it wants to speak and to achieve a regular overall impression.

My work schedule as a musician and as a scholar makes that I must be selective. During the last few years, I have maintained, regulated or revoiced five harpsichords in Sweden and Germany (such as this one) and sixteen during a tour in Israel. I also have been responsible for the final voicing of several of Martin Skowroneck’s harpsichords.

Usually, I combine requests for harpsichord maintenance with other activities at a given place (such as lectures, courses and concerts). Please contact me to discuss your particular requests.

My standards for this work are high. As a consequence
- the revision of a two-manual harpsichord (using the existing plectra as much as possible) takes about four hours. This may, however, vary considerably depending on the state of the instrument.
- fitting a whole two-manual harpsichord with new plectra takes about two working days (usually a full replacement will in fact not be necessary).

Unless otherwise agreed, a regulation of the plucking points (staggering) is included in the service, as well as taking care of such minor technical issues that can be solved outside a workshop.

I am not providing a re-stringing service. The stringing schedule of a harpsichord is part of the original design and ought to be modified by the builder of the instrument. I can, however, replace single broken strings if necessary.

Booking: tilman[at]skowroneck[dot]de or view the contact page.