The Venetian Harpsichord with Owen Daly

A Live Event
Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 2pm, The Episcopal Parish of St. John the Baptist
at Oregon Episcopal School, Portland Oregon

Available Online
Premiere Saturday, February 25, 2023 at 2pm on the WEKA YouTube Channel

On Saturday, February 28, 2023, Owen Daly, builder of harpsichords and clavichords located in Salem, Oregon, will showcase his recently completed instrument made after Venetian models. Owen has presented for WEKA previously. In 2016, he shared his French instrument after Jean-Claude Goujon in a program of François Couperin and Rameau.

The instrument featured in this program is in the style of 16th-century Venetian harpsichords, which included such illustrious makers as Dominicus Pisaurensis and the Trasuntinos. It is not after a specific exemplar, but was designed based upon some recent hypotheses about 16th-century layout practice published by Denzil Wraight, with reference to a number of surviving exemplars.

It is a ‘true inner-outer’ Italian harpsichord, with the harpsichord itself housed in a separate outer case. The instrument’s body and soundboard are of Italian cypress, and the stringing, as was typical of early Italian practice, is in iron save for the use of brass in the bottom three notes of the C/E short octave.

The recital features music appropriate for the instrument’s capabilities, including some works with specifically Venetian connections, and works from outside Venice, but appropriate given that Venetian harpsichords were widely available outside Venice. Composers include: Andrea Antico, Andrea Gabrieli, Michelangelo Rossi, Claudio Merulo, Girolamo Frescobaldi, Antonio de Cabezón and Peter Phillips.

You’ll have an opportunity to ask questions and try the instrument yourself. Please join us for this valuable learning opportunity!

Printable Program

About Live Performances at St. John
Located at 6300 SW Nicol Road in Portland – Directions

Admission
Free to WEKA members and members of the Parish and OES.
Regular Admission $25 – Student Admission $10
Payable at the door with cash or check

Left: Harpsichord by Dominicus Pisaurensis (1543)