Hello harpsichord netters! Now that we have had six weeks or so to
"grow,"--and have *many* more subscribers--I would like to re-post my
original welcome message to you all.  I continue to solicit and welcome
your input!  And, if you were one of our original two-dozen or so
subscribers, feel free to skip this, which was originally posted on the
harpsichord net's second day of existence...
 
Dave
 
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 1994 20:23:46 -0500
From: D. Kelzenberg <[log in to unmask]>
 
In the words of Alfred Hitchcock, "Good evening..."
 
and welcome, charter subscribers, to HPSCHD-L the harpsichord net!
 
I am delighted to observe that, less than 24 hours from the switch being
thrown, we have some 20 members, and are growing.  I am feeling sort of
like a new father.  In other words, rather like I felt when my clavichord
arrived, brand-spanking new in its crate from London, when I was a
sophomore in college.  As John remarked in his earlier post, I was a total
internet neophyte just over a year ago.  PIPORG has taught me much, and I
couldn't be more pleased that this list is the fruit of that educational
process (even though I still consider myself very much a novice).
 
I would like to briefly introduce myself from a slightly different
perspective, since most of you know me through PIPORG-L.  My interest in
stringed early keyboard instruments goes back nearly as far as my passion
for the organ.  As mentioned above, a dream came true for me when, in
1972, I was able to beg, borrow, and mortgage enough money to buy a new
clavichord, and could finally take early music away from the piano.  At
the same time, I was listening to hundreds of records, studying scores, and
trying to play music which was far too difficult for me.  Heaven!
 
In 1984, I was one of five founding members of the Iowa City Early
Keyboard Society, which has become one of only a handful of civic music
organizations specifically dedicated to early keyboards and historic
performance practice.  In 1988, I became President of that group, a post I
continue to hold.  The most visible activity of ICEKS is the Early Music
Iowa concert series, which I also direct.  Each year, we present 3 or 4
concerts--usually solo harpsichord, but occasionally clavichord,
fortepiano, or chamber ensemble.  As I look back at this decade of concert
presenting, I am amazed and proud of the stellar artists who have come to
little Iowa City to perform on our series.  The list includes John
Gibbons, David Schrader, Elizabeth Wright, Mark Kroll, Ed Parmentier, Luc
Beausejour, Penny Crawford, Bernard Brauchli, Joan Benson, Judith Nelson,
Charlotte Mattax, and many others.  I am also quite active in the Midwestern
Historical Keyboard Society, a regional early keyboard society.
 
I am now the proud owner of a beautiful french double harpsichord, built
in 1986 by Peter O'Donnell of Iowa City.  It is based on the 1769 Taskin
in the Russell Collection in Edinborough, Scotland.  If only I had time
to play it! ;-)
 
Enough about me.  Thank you for participating!  I anticipate many
interesting discussions.  To get things started, tell us about
yourselves: do you play, teach, or just listen?  Own instruments?  Play
records?  Build clavicetheria?  Inquiring minds want to know!
 
David C. Kelzenberg
List Owner, HPSCHD-L
University of Iowa, Iowa City