COVER Pg 1 Harpsichord Pictures, jacks, strings, jb tuning Pg 2 - 3 “LORD RICHARD” Remember the movie, Grand Canyon? One just never knows when a single phone call from an unknown admirer can result in major changes in direction. Such was the case when Dan Minicus called me and asked, “Do you know anyone interested in buying a harpsichord?” I wasn’t really interested, but I had these harpsichord pieces I wanted to record. Due to instrument problems, an unsuccessful recording attempt in Chicago stopped me in my tracks, but the desire was still there. I went to Dan’s place and looked. I wanted to play it, but nothing worked. But I could tell, however, that the instrument was one of very high quality – a German Sperrhake-Passau (made by Sperrhake in Passau, Germany). 8 feet long, two manuals, three ranks, two lute stops, and four pedals to operate the ranks and coupling. And heavy! The type of harpsichord preferred by the late conductor Herbert von Karajan for so many of his concerts and recordings. It would need careful attention, but I purchased it, knowing that my friend and colleague, Dwight Thomas, would be able to restore it. He concurred. He had to re-quill it and almost completely renovate the instrument. When finished, he had to teach me to tune it! (But that’s another, very long story!) Now it’s wonderful. A joy to play, and a thrill to hear. And its history? It was given by the English actor, Richard Harris, as a gift to songwriter Jimmy Webb. (Hence the harpsichord’s moniker, “Lord Richard”.) An avid member of the Jimmy Webb fan club, Dan Minicus bought the instrument from Jimmy about 15 years ago. Jimmy had used it in New York during the period when he was writing MacArthur Park. Legend has it that he drank tea a lot, and often placed his teapot and cup on the harpsichord. The tell-tale rings are still there. “Jimmy, if you hear this CD, I hope you enjoy hearing your harpsichord.” And Dan – “thanks for the Grand Canyon phone call.” “JACKSON” signature from scrapbook. Photo and bio Could be tuning photo or ? Pgs 4 - 5 JACKSON BERKEY Hailed by FANFARE magazine as a “lounge lizard” for his recording made on the famous “Horowitz Steinway”, Jackson Berkey’s keyboard career spans over forty years of touring and concertizing as a soloist, as pianist for the Norman Luboff Choir, and as featured keyboard artist with the Grammy Award-winning Mannheim Steamroller. He has recorded over twenty-five CDs on the SDG Records and American Gramaphone labels. An active composer of both sacred and secular choral music, his works have been recorded and performed by hundreds of ensembles across the US and Europe. Jackson has received annual ASCAP awards for his performances over the past 7 years and, accompanied by his Lady Almeda, regularly appears in artist concerts and festivals. In the early 1990’s, Berkey began writing and publishing more instrumental and keyboard music. and since 1992 he has published two books of Piano Derivations, Cape May Preludes,and the Piano Trio Kassarjian. Also in print are piano 4-hand versions of 6Pence, Hosanna Down!, and Homage to Thomas Campion. Piano and harpsichord pieces in preparation at the time of this recording include Cape May Winterludes, Hood Canal Pastels and Lord Richard’s Almanac. Works for the Christmas season include Organ Carols, Anniversary Carols for Organ, and the two books of Keyboard Carols. All of the latter were originally written for solo harpsichord but are here recorded on varied keyboards, and often in combination with harp. Kathy Moore Photo and Bio (photo in personnel shots) Pgs 6 - 7 Kathy Bundock Moore Kathy Bundock Moore, a solo and orchestral harpist, received her BM and MA degrees in Music Theory and Harp from the Eastman School of Music and her Ph.D. from Michigan State University. For the past 23 years, she has taught at the University of Northern Colorado, in Greeley, where she is a Professor of Music T |
