Naxos Blog

Today I heard this very interesting podcast. I'm known most of instrumental music from J.S. Bach, especially for the keyboard. But I'm never heard a lute-harpsichord before this podcast.
For me, it's a pleasure to broaden up my horizon with new music styles, composers and (in this case) instrument sounds.
Only one question. Who is the instrument builder? During your chat with Mrs. Farr, she said the name, but I don't understand it.

Pietro (from Germany)

Hi Pietro, The instrument maker you are asking about is Keith Hill who lives in Manchester, Michigan in the United States. If you go to his website at www.keithhillharpsichords.com, you will find quite a bit of information, along with pictures of various instruments he has built, as well as sound clips of what they sound like.

Raymond

I should write in more. I play your podcasts in the car on the way home from work and love discovering something new. This one was especially interesting as it isn't everyday one discovers a new (yet old) instrument. Thank you.

Hi Will, Thanks for your email, I'm glad you enjoy the podcasts. In the next month or so, I will have a podcast with Susie Napper, a wonderful viola da gamba player who lives in Montreal. She has done many recordings for both Naxos and ATMA. The gamba is another one of those instruments that are not as well known as they should be, but in Susie's hands, it sounds quite magical. I hope you can catch that one as well, she was a very interesting person to talk to. (I interviewed her this morning at her home in Montreal. Susie is also a wonderful cook, so the interview took place at her kitchen table, with the aroma of freshly baked cake around us. It's not often I get to interview people in such delightful surroundings.)