I wish I could fully elaborate on "voicing according to historical data,"
but I don't know enough to do so.  Paul Irvin has had several articles in
the journal "Harpsichord and Fortepiano," but the plectra voicing he is
doing now is another step further along.  All I know about what he did this
past May with the plectra of my French harpsichord and Neapolitan
harpsichord is that he is cutting the ends quite short so that the plectra
are just barely beyond the strings, then he scrapes (doesn't cut) some on
one side (not top or bottom) whereby retaining the integrity of the plectra
(so doesn't break as easily) and the plectrum slides easily off the
string.  We will all need to wait for his book to come out for further
details.

Everything must be set up historically/correctly (including stringing
schedule/material, pin material, etc., for the tone to be free and ringing,
as the entire case will vibrate.  If you listen to my recording of the
French harpsichord, you can hear that the tone is very full, even on the
front 8'.  And in this recording, I use all the possible registrations
(explained in the description).  The last note of the piece is with only
that one front 8' string and it is incredibly full and sustained.  At
Paul's suggestion, I also use the 4' played down an octave for one couplet,
and for some couplets, turn off the back 8' and play the front 8' which now
has reverb from the undamped back 8' strings.

As a performer, I can tell you that the touch is wonderfully light and easy
to control with the finger.  In fact, I feel I now have more control over
the actual tone by how I move the fingers, almost like a clavichord.

Here is a link again:https://soundcloud.com/you/tracks
You may need to set up a free account at Soundcloud.com and if necessary
search for my name:
Carol lei Breckenridge


On Thu, Jun 21, 2018, 12:08 AM Charles Palmer <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Carol,
>
> Could you elaborate on "*voicing according to historical data*"?  Don't
> recall hearing this topic discussed on this forum.  Can you please supply
> references?
>
> Charlie Palmer
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > >
> > ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
> > Note:  opinions  expressed on HPSCHD-L are those of the  individual con-
> > tributors and not necessarily  those of the list owners  nor of the Uni-
> > versity of Iowa.  For a brief  summary of list  commands, send mail to
> > [log in to unmask]  saying  HELP .
> > ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Date:    Wed, 20 Jun 2018 10:46:03 -0400
> > From:    C Breckenridge <[log in to unmask]>
> > Subject: Paul Irvin's research and results
> >
> > As I recently mentioned on this list some of what Paul Irvin has
> researched
> > regarding historical building practices, I would like to let you know of
> > some recordings I just  made of my early keyboards which Paul has
> > transformed using: lighter, historical stringing schedules; Birkett
> > "P-wire" (for the iron strings); softer bridge/nut pins; and voicing
> > according to historical data.  The results have universally been -- for
> all
> > 6 of my early keyboards (3 of which you can hear now on Soundcloud) --
> > greater sustain, more fundamental to the tone, and a clearer, more
> ringing,
> > free tone.
> >
> > The recordings are under my name at Soundcloud.com or try this link:
> > https://soundcloud.com/you/tracks
> >
> > You may need to set up a (free) account, and I suggest if your speakers
> are
> > minimal to listen with headphones for a truer sound.
> >
> > Carol lei Breckenridge
> >
> > ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
> > Note:  opinions  expressed on HPSCHD-L are those of the  individual con-
> > tributors and not necessarily  those of the list owners  nor of the Uni-
> > versity of Iowa.  For a brief  summary of list  commands, send mail to
> > [log in to unmask]  saying  HELP .
> > ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > End of HPSCHD-L Digest - 19 Jun 2018 to 20 Jun 2018 (#2018-106)
> > ***************************************************************
> >
>
> ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
> Note:  opinions  expressed on HPSCHD-L are those of the  individual con-
> tributors and not necessarily  those of the list owners  nor of the Uni-
> versity of Iowa.  For a brief  summary of list  commands, send mail to
> [log in to unmask]  saying  HELP .
> ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
>

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Note:  opinions  expressed on HPSCHD-L are those of the  individual con-
tributors and not necessarily  those of the list owners  nor of the Uni-
versity of Iowa.  For a brief  summary of list  commands, send mail to
[log in to unmask]  saying  HELP .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::