mixed programs

The 5-octave two-manual harpsichord has friends and enemies within the harpsichord community. I mean the large Dulcken model, the expanded Mietke, but first and foremost the Big French Double. Some teachers and students are reported to actually expect harpsichords to be like a Big French. Malicious tongues talk about the Steinway-ification of harpsichord playing. This is not as far-fetched as it seems: I am just reading a job notification for a university piano professor where it says “The School of Music is designated an All-Steinway School”. The step to “this department of Early Music performance provides an exclusive French Double environment” seems small.

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