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Francis Knights, Studying, making and collecting keyboard instruments, Early Music, Volume 42, Issue 4, November 2014, Pages 648–650, https://doi.org/10.1093/em/cau110
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Pendragon’s Historical Harpsichord series moves at a glacial pace, with only five volumes produced in 25 years, but many of the articles included there have been of prime significance. The latest publication fills a glaring gap in our understanding of the instrument’s history, with a consideration of Aspects of harpsichord making in the British Isles. This history can be seen as divided between the early, small-workshop productions of harpsichords, spinets and virginals, and the relative mass production of Kirkman and Shudi & Broadwood in the second half of the 18th century. Although two of the three substantial essays included here focus on this later period, it is not with those mainstream London firms that they deal, but with Dublin maker Ferdinand Weber and with the Longman and Broderip firm (instrument-makers, dealers, retailers and publishers). This book is very much an ‘Edinburgh’ production, with all four authors having worked or studied there; it includes three past and present curators of the Russell Collection.
