Harpsichord after Jan Ruckers (Antwerp, 1623)
by William Horn, Brescia
Without a doubt the Flemish harpsichord makers can rightfully lay claim to the first rank: their instruments were universally acclaimed. Even Handel owned and played one in London. The French often bought older instruments and had them enlarged � raval� � in order to make them suitable for the �modern� repertoire of the 18th C., increasing the range of the keyboard from FF to f���. This copy of the Ruckers of 1625 was constructed in the raval� form, which permits the execution of the entire repertoire.
updated 01.01.2010