I think I have missed the bus, as you've already gone and had a go with this instrument, but just to add a little information here. Yes, it's true, the clavichord is quiet, but it is still important to recognize differences between instruments including volume and try to understand what is possible. So, here are some things I can think of which may or may not be relevant but that would make an instrument unduly weak:
Player technique - I am a terrible clavichord player, I can play my little Fisk double fretted perfectly nicely, but the big Dolmetsch Chickering that is well loved by real clavichordists I can only make whisper. I joke that I can barely play it well enough to tune it.
Listing - Woven listing tends to be help with sustain (and evenness of touch) more than "ruffle" listing, because it helps keep all the strings coupled.
An up stop rail (at least that might be what it is called on a clavichord) - This rail is installed over the top of the listing, to help control the maximum deflection of the string as the tangent pushes on it, which in turn allows the player to impart more controlled force and thus more volume from it.
Regulation - tangets that touch one string, or touch at a less than optimum angle, and differences in key travel will all affect the strength of the notes produced.
String scale - Yes, wrong wire gauges certainly impact volume capabilities. Especially since you are saying that the bass seems responsive enough (the bass is also easier to play, see first suggestion). This might be Zuckerman's mis-design at the time not any error on the part of the kit builder.
Pitch - related to that, a number of clavichords that I have encountered function better at pitches exceeding A=440. Notably small Zuckerman kits. I was told to try as much as a minor 3rd higher, but even a half step or two would make a big difference in volume. Check your handy dandy string tensions spreadsheet to confirm the wire will tolerate the higher pitch, but in general higher pitch means stiffer strings means louder response.
Hopefully something in that mess is helpful. A good book to have on hand is Peter Bavington's Clavichord Tuning and Maintenance. Some of it is too basic for techs, but there is a lot of good stuff in there too. I believe he updated it this year, so it should be currently available. I haven't seen the kinds of stringing tables in it that Malcolm's book has, so that is also a good reference, if you are thinking about restringing. It would depend on how closely the Z-kit resembles historical models however.
All best,
Beth
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Elizabeth Harris
Malden MA
518-817-9046
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-26-2021 04:01
From: Michael Gamble
Subject: clavichord
What an eloquent tribute in the New Yorker.
I have the book by Malcolm Rose and David Law "A Handbook of Historical Stringing Practice for Keyboard Instruments" 207pp. In it there are stringing tables for Clavichord, Plucked Instruments,
Fortepianos, Upright Pianos (1807 Wm.Rolfe, London) is one of the four examples, Square Pianos.
There are graphs of string tensions and various Appendices + bibliography.
Copies of this book are available from Malcolm Rose. He's 'Googleable' at his Workshop in Lewes, Sussex. UK
Michael Gamble. UK.
Original Message:
Sent: 2/25/2021 8:07:00 AM
From: Martin Snow
Subject: RE: clavichord
Both an eloquent tribute to a friend but also an informed admiration of the "whispered soul" of the instrument with some embedded links to clavichord repertoire. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/personal-history/the-whispered-spell-of-the-clavichord
www.snowpianos.com
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Martin Snow
South Burlington VT
617-543-1030
Original Message:
Sent: 02-25-2021 04:40
From: Michael Gamble
Subject: clavichord
So it's quiet! Believe me, I once went to a Clavichord Recital in Brighton (UK) right near a main road leading to the Pier and Seafront. Amazingly as the ears got accustomed to the very low volume I began to appreciate the tone. 'Tis said that Handel used to steal away in the night to a roof room where there was a Clavichord - and practice there! His family discovered him.
Michael G.
Original Message:
Sent: 2/24/2021 8:57:00 AM
From: Douglas Laing
Subject: RE: clavichord
It's a clavichord. It is quiet and intimate. A person in the next room should barely hear it. If it's fretted it's even more quiet. If it's their large model then its about the level of pp on a piano.
Original Message:
Sent: 2/23/2021 9:33:00 PM
From: Donald McKechnie
Subject: clavichord
I am going to have a look at this Zuckermann kit clavichord tomorrow (see attached photo) to see what I can do to improve overall volume. I had cleaned up the instrument and tuned it back in 2019. It is very weak except for the lower notes. The kit was built in 1984 and for the most part has original strings. The soundboard and bridges look ok but I suppose it is possible that the board can no longer project well. I will experiment with a couple of new strings to see if the age of the strings are an issue. I have seen similar sized clavichords with better volume so I guess it could be a combination of problems that make this instrument weak in tone.
Might anyone have some experience or ideas on how to improve the volume? The owner is wondering if the string schedule is correct. I suppose it is possible that it is not correct but I think the builder was meticulous and probably did not get the schedule wrong. Hopefully Zuckermann can give me the correct schedule. I plan to contact Zuckermann after I have a look tomorrow but I certainly appreciate any responses from this list.
Of course, I would like to talk the owner into buying this clavichord :-)
John Challis Clavichord Circa 1940sFacebook | remove preview |
| John Challis Clavichord Circa 1940s | A rare and beautiful instrument. Lovingly cared for and in immaculate condition. Originally fitted with a wood soundboard, but it was upgrade to metal by Challis himself later. Almost never needs any... | View this on Facebook > |
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[Don] [McKechnie,] [RPT]
[Piano Technician]
[dmckech@ithaca.edu]
[Home 607.277.7112]
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