Harpsichord after Neapolitan models of the 16th century with eight-foot and four-foot


While the disposition with 8' and 4' was the rule in 16th century Venice, the single eight-foot seems to have been the standard in Naples of this period. Only very few instruments with original eight and four foot have survived; to be precise, I know of two. My model for this instrument is now in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and is dated around 1550. In this beautiful instrument we find all the typical features that we also encounter in the single-register Neapolitan harpsichords.