Clavichord for Beginners

CD and DVD Contents, About the Author

125 CD and DVD Contents CD Track List 1. Tombeau fait à Paris sur la Mort de Monsieur Blancheroche Johann Jakob Froberger (1616–1667) Clavichord by Thomas Goff, England, 1936 (Repertoire Records, 1962) 2. Free Fantasia in F# Minor, Wq 67 (1787) Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach (1714–1788) Clavichord by Jacobus Verwolf, Holland, 1960 (Repertoire Records, 1962) 3. Fantasia II in C Major, für Kenner und Liebhaber, vol. 5, Wq 59/6 (1785) C. P. E. Bach Pianoforte by John Broadwood and Son, 1795 (Orion Master Recordings, Giveon Cornfield, 1975) 4. Fantasia in D Minor, K. 397 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) Pianoforte by John Broadwood and Son, 1795 (Recorded by David Wilson, 1982) 5. Sonata in G Minor, Moderato, Hob. XVI/44/2 Franz Joseph Haydn (1732–1809) Clavichord by Johann Christoph Georg Schiedmayer, Germany, 1796 Boston Museum of Fine Arts (Titanic Records, Ralph Dopmeyer, 1980) 6. Fantasie in E Minor, F. 21 Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (1710–1784) Clavichord by Pehr Lindholm, Sweden, 1785 (Recorded by David Wilson, 1982) 7. Sonata in D Major, Hob. XVI/24 Franz Joseph Haydn Allegro Adagio Finale: Presto Pianoforte by John Broadwood and Son, 1795 (From live concerts, Smithsonian Institution, 1975, and Arch St., Berkeley, 1973) 126 CD and DVD Contents 8. In a Landscape (1948) John Cage (1912–1992) Hamburg Steinway grand piano, 1966 (From live concert, Music Today’s Festival of the Millennium, 2000) This CD represents four decades of Joan Benson’s artistry. It begins with her first clavichord LP, chosen by Saturday Review as one of the best classical recordings for 1962. Her revival of C. P. E. Bach’s emotional Free Fantasia in F# Minor awakened international acclaim. Joan’s sensitive and spontaneous interaction with audiences was an important part of her music making. Hence this CD emphasizes her exquisite interpretations of eighteenth century, free fantasias filled with improvisation-like, quick-changing moods. It also offers, for the first time, recordings of her live performances of music by Haydn and John Cage. Instruments range from her original Lindholm clavichord to a Hamburg Steinway grand piano. Settings vary from a San Francisco bedroom to a concert hall in Washington, D.C. Joan Benson’s CD was produced by Barry Phillips, (winner of a 2012 Grammy Award for engineering and producing Ravi Shankar’s music). Eric Jacobs of Audio Archive and John Nunes made fine digital transfers, along with Jay Kadis and Bill Levey. Phillips carefully reduced or eliminated hiss, clicks, pops, and hums, using Izotope restoration software. Every effort was made to retain the subtle and contrasting dynamics in which Joan Benson excelled. DVD Contents 1. Introduction 2. Excerpts 3. Flexibility Exercises 4. Clavichord Mechanism 5. Finding Your Voice 6. The Dolmetsch/Chickering Clavichord 7. Student One 8. Student Two 9. Student Three 10. Student Four 11. Student Six 12. Closing Thoughts Joan Benson has performed throughout the world, garnering the respect of classical music enthusiasts and major contemporary composers. She has taught on the faculty at Stanford University, the University of Oregon, and the Aston Magna Academy in Massachusetts. ...