Program season 2010-2011

Sound examples

Pictures of the instrument

The clavichord is often linked to an instrument only suited for old music, limited both in technical possibilities and sound. One tend to forget that the 18th century gave this instrument an important facelift. The unfretted five octaves (or more!) clavichord changed the music of the 18th century dramatically, being the only keyboard instrument that allowed the player to make both dynamic changes and influence the tone. Bach even might have written his Wohltemperirte clavier for it.

The newly developed clavichord was the only keyboard instrument that remained popular in the late 18th century. Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven, amongst others, had several clavichords on which they performed and composed. The unfretted clavichord gives the player of today the possibility of playing both early and late 18th century music historically correct on the same instrument.

Wim Winters plays a brand new instrument (2009) by Joris Potvlieghe. For nearly 25 years, Potvlieghe built clavichords for major musicians and conservatories worldwide, becoming one of the first clavichord builders of today. The instrument is perfectly capable of performing for an audience of 150 people, turning the atmosphere, only by its unique way of sound production, in to a very concentrated and intense happening.