Hi all:

I think that Dr. Calhoun did not so much mean to say that American
harpsichords are BETTER than European ones, though it did come off
that way.

His underlying point needs to be reasserted. Given the state of
harpsichord building in North America, there is something inherently
either ill-informed or almost offensive about a North American
trundling off to get the 'real thing' in Europe. It smacks of the
same combination of naivete and snobbism that allowed the old
European revival instruments to market themselves over here so
successfully a couple of generations ago.

The fellow would do well to do his homework. No matter where he
lived, he should have started by making himself better informed about
the state of the art closer to home. Same holds true across the pond
as well.

Owen