[ In the Press ]
Arthur Haas and Webb Wiggins Keep It Original
Harmonia Early Music
By Janelle Davis
One of the most intriguing things about early keyboard instruments, and original period instruments in general, is their lack of standardization. Of course, every instrument—modern, folk, period, traditional—has its own personality. But instrument personality is especially apparent in the many makes and models of keyboard instruments of the bygone eras–each bearing characteristics further defined by national lines: German harpsichords were different than French harpsichords which were different still from Italian and English models. These keyboards also evolved incredibly fast resulting in instruments each with a unique “user interface” and with distinctive subtleties of touch, action, timbre and sound.
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Late 17th and early 18th century instruments from Antwerp and Paris feature in another 2013 recording. This one, released by Plectra Records, features Arthur Haas performing Rameau’s Pieces de Clavecin on the 1627 Ioannes Ruckers and 1707 Nicolas Dumont harpsichords from the Flint Collection.
