FLEMISH MUSELAR VIRGINAL AFTER ANDREAS RUCKERS, 1620. (Musee Instrumental, Brussels)
FLEMISH SPINETT VIRGINAL AFTER IOANNES RUCKERS, c 1600. (Castello Sforzesco, Milan)
There are two types of Flemish virginals, the muselar having its keyboard to the right hand side of the instrument, producing a plummy sound due to its centre plucking position; and the spinett type, with the keyboard to the left, producing a sound similar to that of a harpsichord. Both types are offered by the workshop. The cases are of poplar and yellow pine, with a European spruce soundboard and pearwood bridges. The keyboard is of lime, with bone topped naturals and black accidentals. The stringing is in brass and iron. The casework is painted and marbled in the Flemish style, and watermarked papers with Latin inscriptions are applied to the inner lid and keywell flap, with other Flemish papers - hand-printed in our workshop - applied to the front and inner case. The virginals have 8 legged fumed English oak balustraded turned leg stands and are an ideal domestic instrument for those with limited space.
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FLEMISH SINGLE MANUAL HARPSICHORD AFTER HANS MOERMANS, 1584. (Hubbard Collection, Boston, Mass.)
A delightfully sweet, medium sized Flemish harpsichord, with a bright, warm sound. The casework is of poplar, and the soundboard is of European spruce. All of the action is in traditional materials with a lime keyboard covered with bone topped naturals and black accidentals. The casework is painted in the Flemish manner with Latin mottos to the inside lids, and traditional Flemish papers - printed by ourselves - are used to decorate the keywell and soundwell. The four leg turned trestle stand is collapsible for ease of transport, and the instrument is strung traditionally, with iron and brass wire.
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FLEMISH DOUBLE MANUAL HARPSICHORD AFTER IOANNES DANIEL DULCKEN, 1745. (Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC)
The largest extant two manual Flemish harpsichord, built in poplar with painted casework and hand fabricated copies of the original brassware. It has a sweet and even tone, less rich than the French instruments, partly due to the very large case and long scaling. Keyboards are of lime with bone faced naturals and ebony topped accidentals in the Flemish manner. Dulcken's two manual instruments feature a lute stop - normally associated with English instruments - and this is available if desired on our instrument. Stringing is in red and yellow brass, and iron wire, and the soundboard is of European spruce. The case is painted and gilded, with the 12 legged balustraded stand included as standard.
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