Douglas -- out of the many hundreds (thousands?) of videos of construction projects that I've watched on RUclips over the years, that was one of the most impressive and lucid ones that I've seen. And the results of your work are truly impressive. Well done!
Wow! I just found your channel and I can't give you enough likes! I come from a musical family and am a violinist. My father was a musician and owned a music store for 35 years. Every summer, my dad's workroom was filled with stringed instruments from all of our county's schools. I loved to just stand in the doorway and smell the wood and rosin as my dad cleaned each instrument and replaced bridges and strings. I miss that and I miss him, dearly. However, I recently went to his store (now a curio shop), and I swear I could smell the rosin, LOL! Dad would have loved your channel and I know that I will have him in mind as I watch more of your videos. I can't wait to see the other instruments that you've made. SUBSCRIBED!
(Apologies in advance if you've already covered this in one of your videos that I haven't seen yet about building another harpsichord.) Looking at the keys of the lowest octave, I wonder if the original in the museum had a short/broken octave. Lowest note E doesn't guarantee, but is a clue favoring, the E actually corresponds to the C below that; F is as normal; but then the F♯ key actually plays the D below that; the G is as normal; and then the G♯ key actually plays the E below that. The overall effect is that you extend the range of the instrument downwards by a major third at the cost of missing some in-between notes that were considered to be not used as often. A similar system existed on some harpsichords appearing to have low B as their lowest note, which actually played G below that, with the C♯ and E♭ keys being likewise substituted. Some harpsichords and organs (presumably also ottavinos) had split keys so that you could get both F♯ and D, and both G♯ and E (or both C♯ and A, and both E♭ and B). These split keys looked very much like the split flat/sharp keys that appeared on some instruments (including some of the same instruments) higher on the keyboard to enable playing of flats and sharps that were not enharmonic in meantone tuning (12 tone equal temperament was known about back then, but it wasn't in favor then the way it is now, and music went through an intermediate stage of well-tempered tuning before equal temperament finally become dominant in the late 19th/early 20th Century). (And, although I have yet to see images or footage of one, supposedly some Viennese instruments had sort of a combination of both short/broken octave systems, and lasted into Haydn's time.) Short/broken octaves obviously aren't very user-friendly if you're expecting the whole keyboard to work the same way, but they saved on instrument cost in a time when remote key signatures were rare, _especially_ on pipe organs; on the plus side, if you _do_ manage to get used to playing on them, you can reach some intervals that you can't reach elsewhere on the keyboard unless you're Sergei Rachmaninov.
I don't know if the original Vaninus instrument had a short octave or not. It seems to me that if you're playing this little thing, you've already given up on having a decent range of notes to work with....
@@douglasnadel1028 True enough, but on the other hand, if you already have a short range, an extension by a major third makes more of a percentage difference than it would on a full-compass instrument.
To expand on that and explain why, the -ino ending in Italian is a "diminutive", ie. it "shrinks" the thing it comes after. A sopranino recorder is smaller and higher than a soprano. "Ottavino" is also another name for the piccolo flute, so called because it plays a whole octave up from the written music. Anyone playing on an ottavino harpischord would likely be playing tunes notated for an instrument pitched an octave or two down, hence the name.
That future researcher said about technology that old stuff gets exchanged for new stuff, and used electronic pianos as an example. Because the sound would be good enough! That's nonsense, I get goosebumps when I hear a real piano from time to time. The real deal should better never die out, instead we need to explore more mechanical instruments and solutions.
@@gustavgnoettgen On a good electronic piano, the sound is good enough, it's just lacking in terms of feel and they lack the uniqueness of the sound from one build to the other
@@gustavgnoettgen In the end it's up to the player, personally sound wise, either is good enough, but the acoustic piano has a special feel for me. I'd still probably prefer having an electronic one mainly because of its synth sound options for more Rock/Metal oriented playing
I don't know why, but I am trying to make one myself. This video just shows me the intensity of how perfect everything needs to be. Thank you, by the way, no other video on RUclips goes through the detail need to create one! Good luck to me... haa
Bravo, Douglas! Keep up the great work! I think it'd be a lot of fun to build a harpsichord, but my mind addles at the thought of just how long it would take. And, I can't even quantify the amount of tenacity required either. Kudos for a job well done!
Beautiful instrument! Thank you for sharing your process. I am a professional harpsichord and clavichord technician and appreciate all the details you put into this video.
That's true, but it has to be strong enough to resist the pull of the strings. Plus it's really taking away from the space in the storage compartment, not the soundwell
@@douglasnadel1028 I noticed they look a little bit conceptually similar to those cardboard latches that are used in egg cartons. The form of the cardboard latch is simply turned on its' head and I think it might work in a similar way. I thought I might try to whittle them in wood using a saw and wood carving tools or maybe buy them if they exist in the market place. I'm making a casing for a xylophone table at the moment. I made some of the keys with steel flat bar. They sound okay. I'm making note shaped feet on it a bit like Queen Anne or Cabriolet shaped wooden feet. The shape naturally occurs consistently and uniformly in iron bark gum tree in small branch limbs.
Fantastic work! It looks amazing, and I love that you made three of them at once! I had flashbacks to my teen years when my Dad and I built a clavichord kit, and to several years ago when I replaced the action on our Zuckerman harpsichord! Your approach to making the register is really clever and I like you how you approached the keyboard. Definitely going to check out your marquetry video. I don't suppose you have drawings for sale? I'm thinking I'd like to build one.
Thanks! I only made one Ottavino Virginal, but I made three Spiinets, see my other video ruclips.net/video/naSeYNwb4XU/видео.html I have plans and instructions for the Spinet, email me douglasnadel@gmail.com
@@douglasnadel1028 Funny - I was watching the spinet video on my TV while commenting on my laptop. This comment was meant to go there! Will contact you. Thanks!
This is a mini harpsichord at 4' which sounds from E4 to F6; you should make an octave lower version, a 8' instrument which will sound from E3 to F5!!!! Great one!!!!
Nice. I always wanted a harpsichord. Could not afford one, those I´ve seen for sale costs more than classic campaign furnitures. I usually have good luck with wood working, maybe I´ll should give building one a try. I´d like one in transportable size but I also like having full range of tones and the tonal modes. Do you know any site with good descriptions to draw such design influences from ? Guitarist caught shopping in a piano shop; What piano string gauges fits what tone ranges ? And whats up with double/triple strings on each note ?
You can buy a kit for a full-size harpsichord from Zuckermann's, these are still quite expensive. Renaissance Workshop Company sells kits and plans for a full-size spinet. Check out my video on building an Ottavino Spinet ruclips.net/video/naSeYNwb4XU/видео.html If you want to try building it, email me and I'll send you plans douglasnadel@gmail.com
What a magical little instrument! It makes me think a little of a music box, which, seeing that it is a box that makes music, I guess that's an appropriate term haha... Anyway, beautiful work.
One the roses, if properly made, the parchment acts as a tiny extra 'soundboard,' like a tiny snare drum! One instrument I had built (a cittern), the parchment added an entirely new 'ring' to the sound.
This instrument is more like a mini Clavichord. I kinda want to design a Clavichord that can be 3D printed. This way, I can take a keyboard instrument anywhere and it can fit on my lap just barely. It won’t have 88 keys, but more like half of what a Piano has. Clavichords in real life don’t have 88 keys, either. It probably won’t sound good but it will be a 3D printed version and has rubber bands as strings.
I built a 17th C. ottavino a few years ago. I never was able to get the plectra to work properly. No matter what I do I can't get them trimmed so they aren't so stiff. The action is too heavy. I wonder how you trimmed yours.
The ones I used were plastic (celcon) and I got them from Zuckermann. It's been said that it takes just as long to voice a harpsichord as it takes to build one. When I visited Zuckermann's workshop they basically told me I wouldn't be able to voice it and I should hire them to do it. Basically I used a very sharp #11 scalpel blade to thin the plectra, then carve a triangular-shaped profile and then taper the tip. On an ottavino the plectra are very short and so it's hard to thin them enough. Fortunately the plectra are cheap and easy to replace if you go too far. Good luck!
This was stainless steel "music wire," I don't know if it's any different than "piano wire." 0.008" for the upper strings and 0.009" for the lower strings.
I could never in a million years think my way through something like this.
Ohhhhhh, I bet after a hundred thousand years you'd be surprised!!!! 😜
Idk why but im trying to make one. Defined without all the fancy details!
Wow! It's sounds great too. Cool project
Beautiful-amazing talent you have Douglas
It has the quality, timbre, intensity, and the sweetness of a soprano voice when it plays.
You know, for a "toy," that actually sounds beautiful!
Douglas -- out of the many hundreds (thousands?) of videos of construction projects that I've watched on RUclips over the years, that was one of the most impressive and lucid ones that I've seen. And the results of your work are truly impressive. Well done!
FROM one, lover of the harpsichord from down under. Thank You
Is it just me or is this the cutest harpsichord ever
One of the most amazing things i have ever seen.
Wow! I just found your channel and I can't give you enough likes! I come from a musical family and am a violinist. My father was a musician and owned a music store for 35 years. Every summer, my dad's workroom was filled with stringed instruments from all of our county's schools. I loved to just stand in the doorway and smell the wood and rosin as my dad cleaned each instrument and replaced bridges and strings. I miss that and I miss him, dearly. However, I recently went to his store (now a curio shop), and I swear I could smell the rosin, LOL! Dad would have loved your channel and I know that I will have him in mind as I watch more of your videos. I can't wait to see the other instruments that you've made. SUBSCRIBED!
Thanks so much for your wonderful comment!
A fascinating video. You are truly a wood working & musical genius!
I don’t think anything could’ve prepared me for how beautifully that turned out in the end. Tremendous work!
I realized at the end that I had my mouth open for almost the entirety of the video. Simply jaw-dropping!
This is amazing craftmanshift Douglas !
Have built many instruments like this over the last 60 years and still do. Great work you have done on this. Thanks for sharing.
I'm thinking of getting into building minikeyboards, I suppose the easiest thing to start with would be a clavichord?
@@Fellow_Traveller1985 Yep.
You are truly gifted.
I mean I hope the next generation if any, will pass on all these skills.
absolutely incredible
Beautiful, just beautiful! Thank You for your great skill and patience, making the World even more wonderful.
Absolutely fantastic. Now I want to buy one. Well done and good presentation. Thank you.
Contact me at dnadel@dh.org
Amazing work! I think besides the absolutely fantastic craftsmanship, that's most adorable a harspichord can get
Wow! Your instrument sounds so beautiful and clean!
Impressive work and a beautiful result!
Wow, just wonderful. Great work man.
This is some absolutely fantastic craftsmanship
So beautiful! I’m obsessed with it 😍
Wow your work is beautiful. This was really helpful thank you
Wow! The sound of the instrument is so pretty
My gosh its beautiful
One of the coolest things I've ever seen!
Mozart would say “Not enough notes.” Seriously that was very impressive.
I’d love to buy one of these.
Yeah, I sold this recently to someone in Japan. I might build another Ottavino, this time a Spinet. Subscribe and stay tuned!
Delightfully satisfying to enjoy the process and pick up some ideas for future projects, your sharing this video is most appreciated Douglas!
Delightful and exciting. Thank you for sharing this with us.
(Apologies in advance if you've already covered this in one of your videos that I haven't seen yet about building another harpsichord.)
Looking at the keys of the lowest octave, I wonder if the original in the museum had a short/broken octave. Lowest note E doesn't guarantee, but is a clue favoring, the E actually corresponds to the C below that; F is as normal; but then the F♯ key actually plays the D below that; the G is as normal; and then the G♯ key actually plays the E below that. The overall effect is that you extend the range of the instrument downwards by a major third at the cost of missing some in-between notes that were considered to be not used as often. A similar system existed on some harpsichords appearing to have low B as their lowest note, which actually played G below that, with the C♯ and E♭ keys being likewise substituted. Some harpsichords and organs (presumably also ottavinos) had split keys so that you could get both F♯ and D, and both G♯ and E (or both C♯ and A, and both E♭ and B). These split keys looked very much like the split flat/sharp keys that appeared on some instruments (including some of the same instruments) higher on the keyboard to enable playing of flats and sharps that were not enharmonic in meantone tuning (12 tone equal temperament was known about back then, but it wasn't in favor then the way it is now, and music went through an intermediate stage of well-tempered tuning before equal temperament finally become dominant in the late 19th/early 20th Century). (And, although I have yet to see images or footage of one, supposedly some Viennese instruments had sort of a combination of both short/broken octave systems, and lasted into Haydn's time.) Short/broken octaves obviously aren't very user-friendly if you're expecting the whole keyboard to work the same way, but they saved on instrument cost in a time when remote key signatures were rare, _especially_ on pipe organs; on the plus side, if you _do_ manage to get used to playing on them, you can reach some intervals that you can't reach elsewhere on the keyboard unless you're Sergei Rachmaninov.
I don't know if the original Vaninus instrument had a short octave or not. It seems to me that if you're playing this little thing, you've already given up on having a decent range of notes to work with....
@@douglasnadel1028 True enough, but on the other hand, if you already have a short range, an extension by a major third makes more of a percentage difference than it would on a full-compass instrument.
SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!
That is really cool.
what a gorgeous instrument. beautifully built, and sounds fantastic. Well done.
Actually called 'ottavino' because it's tuned an octave higher usual.
To expand on that and explain why, the -ino ending in Italian is a "diminutive", ie. it "shrinks" the thing it comes after. A sopranino recorder is smaller and higher than a soprano.
"Ottavino" is also another name for the piccolo flute, so called because it plays a whole octave up from the written music.
Anyone playing on an ottavino harpischord would likely be playing tunes notated for an instrument pitched an octave or two down, hence the name.
What a beauty!!
loved the touch of humour with the kit kats 😂😂😂
This awesome in so many ways! Recently discovering the harmonium as an instrument makes this even more attractive to me!
man that was GREAT !
I'm just in awe. This is an assault on the senses, beautiful and it sounds fantastic. Excellent, excellent work!
Wow awesome
One could say you're skilled !! Just amazing !!
Inspirational! Thanks for sharing your talent!!
This is awesome! Very nice!
lovely project and presentation. I would love to have a little ottavino
One of my Ottavino Spinets is still available, see video linked above, email me if you're interested douglasnadel@gmail.com
Wow... Knowledge skill patience determinarion you have. It and something more ..God bless you for this video ...
Very, vrey impressed.
Wow man, this is looking very nice, the attention to detail in decorating it also is top notch!
Outstanding in all ways!!
beautiful we need more people bring things like this back very wonderful
That future researcher said about technology that old stuff gets exchanged for new stuff, and used electronic pianos as an example. Because the sound would be good enough! That's nonsense, I get goosebumps when I hear a real piano from time to time. The real deal should better never die out, instead we need to explore more mechanical instruments and solutions.
@@gustavgnoettgen On a good electronic piano, the sound is good enough, it's just lacking in terms of feel and they lack the uniqueness of the sound from one build to the other
@@lawabidingcitizen5153 not good enough for me
@@gustavgnoettgen In the end it's up to the player, personally sound wise, either is good enough, but the acoustic piano has a special feel for me. I'd still probably prefer having an electronic one mainly because of its synth sound options for more Rock/Metal oriented playing
@@gustavgnoettgen Agreed 100%
Yay!!! Great work! .....and not bad-sounding for something with no bass at all. A little jewel.
I don't know why, but I am trying to make one myself. This video just shows me the intensity of how perfect everything needs to be. Thank you, by the way, no other video on RUclips goes through the detail need to create one! Good luck to me... haa
Hey check out my video of building an Ottavino Spinet, I have a construction manual available for it. douglasnadel@gmail.com
Unbelievable work.This inspired me as I love the harpsichord type sound but then I realised this project would be far beyond my skillset lol
Bravo, Douglas! Keep up the great work! I think it'd be a lot of fun to build a harpsichord, but my mind addles at the thought of just how long it would take. And, I can't even quantify the amount of tenacity required either. Kudos for a job well done!
Beautiful instrument! Thank you for sharing your process. I am a professional harpsichord and clavichord technician and appreciate all the details you put into this video.
that was really funny with the kit-kat ebony, well done on the beautiful build
Hey, thanks. I do get hungry in the workshop sometimes...
Excellent work - really impressive
thank you for uploading this
Amazing work all around from the planning to the execution, fantastic work doug
That’s amazing and beautiful toy😊 Thank you
What a lovely quiet sound!
Beautifully done - but all that work for a two-octave keyboard!
Thanks for the inspirational video.
11:48 how does it sound like
So beautiful. You are certainly an artist.
Not going to lie I’m green with envy I am legitimately jealous. I wish I could do this. DAMN ID LOVE TO MAKE ONE OF THESE
Start with a simpler project and work up to it!
Fantastic! Congratulations, and thanks for posting this video.
If you made the slanting liner( hitch pin liner) thinner you would free up the sound board and improve the sound.
That's true, but it has to be strong enough to resist the pull of the strings. Plus it's really taking away from the space in the storage compartment, not the soundwell
Truly mesmerizing!
Amazing exquisite thing from wood.
Thanks very much! The mechanism hammer strikes from beneath I presume(?)
Yes, the key lever lifts up a jack from underneath to pluck the string
@@douglasnadel1028 I noticed they look a little bit conceptually similar to those cardboard latches that are used in egg cartons. The form of the cardboard latch is simply turned on its' head and I think it might work in a similar way. I thought I might try to whittle them in wood using a saw and wood carving tools or maybe buy them if they exist in the market place. I'm making a casing for a xylophone table at the moment. I made some of the keys with steel flat bar. They sound okay. I'm making note shaped feet on it a bit like Queen Anne or Cabriolet shaped wooden feet. The shape naturally occurs consistently and uniformly in iron bark gum tree in small branch limbs.
Fantastic work! It looks amazing, and I love that you made three of them at once! I had flashbacks to my teen years when my Dad and I built a clavichord kit, and to several years ago when I replaced the action on our Zuckerman harpsichord! Your approach to making the register is really clever and I like you how you approached the keyboard. Definitely going to check out your marquetry video. I don't suppose you have drawings for sale? I'm thinking I'd like to build one.
Thanks! I only made one Ottavino Virginal, but I made three Spiinets, see my other video ruclips.net/video/naSeYNwb4XU/видео.html
I have plans and instructions for the Spinet, email me douglasnadel@gmail.com
@@douglasnadel1028 Funny - I was watching the spinet video on my TV while commenting on my laptop. This comment was meant to go there! Will contact you. Thanks!
Your work is amazing!
That is absolutely beautiful, way to go
Stunning, ingenious work!
The details and overall build of this harpsichord is insane....this is awesome
Beautiful little instrument!
awesome project, and great workmanship!
Дуже гарно зроблено ! вітаю- чудова та цікава робота!)
This is a mini harpsichord at 4' which sounds from E4 to F6; you should make an octave lower version, a 8' instrument which will sound from E3 to F5!!!! Great one!!!!
Nice. I always wanted a harpsichord. Could not afford one, those I´ve seen for sale costs more than classic campaign furnitures. I usually have good luck with wood working, maybe I´ll should give building one a try. I´d like one in transportable size but I also like having full range of tones and the tonal modes. Do you know any site with good descriptions to draw such design influences from ?
Guitarist caught shopping in a piano shop;
What piano string gauges fits what tone ranges ? And whats up with double/triple strings on each note ?
You can buy a kit for a full-size harpsichord from Zuckermann's, these are still quite expensive. Renaissance Workshop Company sells kits and plans for a full-size spinet. Check out my video on building an Ottavino Spinet ruclips.net/video/naSeYNwb4XU/видео.html
If you want to try building it, email me and I'll send you plans
douglasnadel@gmail.com
Wooo I'd wanna buy it. I wish you make more!
this is absolutely exquisite, I loved watching the whole process and it looks so beautiful!!! nice work
Thank you so much!
What a magical little instrument! It makes me think a little of a music box, which, seeing that it is a box that makes music, I guess that's an appropriate term haha... Anyway, beautiful work.
una insparacón : con vida y lúcida de conversación !
How charming...
Maaaan. That is so impressive!!!
One the roses, if properly made, the parchment acts as a tiny extra 'soundboard,' like a tiny snare drum! One instrument I had built (a cittern), the parchment added an entirely new 'ring' to the sound.
Super impressed - do you build clavichords as well?
Youre super gifted, thanks for vid!
This instrument is more like a mini Clavichord. I kinda want to design a Clavichord that can be 3D printed. This way, I can take a keyboard instrument anywhere and it can fit on my lap just barely. It won’t have 88 keys, but more like half of what a Piano has. Clavichords in real life don’t have 88 keys, either.
It probably won’t sound good but it will be a 3D printed version and has rubber bands as strings.
Incredible stuff! And what a lovely sound.
That is AMAZING! Do you sell your creations?
Contact me at dnadel@dh.org
My God! You are so talented!!!!
👍....was happy to get to hear it......
I built a 17th C. ottavino a few years ago. I never was able to get the plectra to work properly. No matter what I do I can't get them trimmed so they aren't so stiff. The action is too heavy. I wonder how you trimmed yours.
The ones I used were plastic (celcon) and I got them from Zuckermann. It's been said that it takes just as long to voice a harpsichord as it takes to build one. When I visited Zuckermann's workshop they basically told me I wouldn't be able to voice it and I should hire them to do it. Basically I used a very sharp #11 scalpel blade to thin the plectra, then carve a triangular-shaped profile and then taper the tip. On an ottavino the plectra are very short and so it's hard to thin them enough. Fortunately the plectra are cheap and easy to replace if you go too far. Good luck!
@@douglasnadel1028 - thanks for this tip (no pun intended). I'll try it. I built my first Zuckermann kit in 1972. Still have it!
How cute is that!! Can one buy this or a similar one somewhere?
I have one more Ottavino Spinet available. See link above for it's video and email me if you're interested douglasnadel@gmail.com
Doug, where did you get your jacks? Thanks Doug
Zuckermann Harpsichords www.zhi.net
Qual o tipo de corda que utilizou ? Corda de piano pode ser usado ?
This was stainless steel "music wire," I don't know if it's any different than "piano wire." 0.008" for the upper strings and 0.009" for the lower strings.
@@douglasnadel1028 muito obrigado amigo... Acha que pode ser usado cordas de violão ou guitarra ?
@@free...6459 I don't really know, although I would recommend NOT using gut, nylon, or wound strings
@@douglasnadel1028 thank you ...