Object Details
- Shudi, Burkat
- Description (Brief)
- This harpsichord was made by Barkat Shudi in London, England about 1743. It is a double manual harpsichord with a compass of FF - f3 (no FF#), and a disposition of 2 x 8’, 1 x 4’, with lute, buff, and 5 hand stops 3 on left, 2 on right). The harpsichord has a spruce soundboard, and ivory naturals and ebony accidentals. The upper name batten is inscribed: “Burkat Shudi Fecit Londini” and the lower name batten is inscribed: “Burkat Shudi No 199 Fecit Londoni 1747." The original lower keyboard is marked “144.”
This instrument once was a part of a combined harpsichord and pipe organ, or clavi-organum. It was first built with four harpsichord stops: lute, 4’ octave, upper manual 8’, and lower manual 8’. The keyslip of the lower manual shows evidence of two holes, between EE and FF, and f2 and g2. There is also evidence of clearance holes for rods and actuating levers for a mechanical arrangement for sliding a register for organ stickers, in order activate or shut off the organ-playing key action. The organ hand stops, which pulled through the lower manual key cheeks, apparently numbered six.
The lid is of modern American make and was likely to have been made around 1900. Like the casework, the upper keyboard was probably made by a previous restorer, while the lower keyboard is old and very likely original to this instrument. The keyboards have been replaced and the lower keyboard has been preserved for study.
Restored to playing condition 1964-1965, by William Dowd, the Shudi harpsichord is currently used in concerts on featured on recordings by the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society.
Recordings currently available can be found at the following link:
www.smithsonianchambermusic.org
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Gift of Hugo Worch
- ca 1743
- ID Number
- MI.314524
- accession number
- 65118
- catalog number
- 314524
- Object Name
- harpsichord
- parts, harpsichord
- Physical Description
- walnut veneer (case material)
- metal (overall material)
- spruce (soundboard material)
- ivory (naturals material)
- ebony (accidentals material)
- Delrin (plectra material)
- Measurements
- overall (instrument only): 11 5/8 in x 36 5/8 in x 96 in; 29.5275 cm x 93.0275 cm x 243.84 cm
- overall: 12 1/2 in x 37 1/2 in x 98 in; 31.75 cm x 95.25 cm x 248.92 cm
- overall: wood, pieces of: 4 1/2 in x 45 in x 12 1/2 in; 11.43 cm x 114.3 cm x 31.75 cm
- place made
- United Kingdom: England, London
- See more items in
- Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments
- Music & Musical Instruments
- Harpsichords
- National Museum of American History
- Record ID
- nmah_606002
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-25aa-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
