In 2015 I was asked by my colleague Fergus Hoey to collaborate with him in restoring this extremely interesting 17th century Italian harpsichord belonging to the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. As often happens, it had been restored before (by the late Trevor Beckerleg in 1975) but some of the problems that had been dealt with then had reappeared and forty years more research into historic instruments enabled us to get a little closer to understanding what its original configuration may have been.

Research by Denzil Wraight shows that it is very probable that this harpsichord was made by Giovanni Batista Boni who worked in Cortona during the early part of the 17th century. It was originally triple strung with three sets of strings at 8 foot pitch – a very unusual arrangement. At quite an early date this disposition was altered and the original compass of 45 notes C/E to c''' was extended to C/E to d'''. The nut and bridge were also replaced and the pitch probably raised. These alterations may have been made in stages, and as it is impossible to be sure of the original set-up it was necessary to return the instrument to its last historical state which was that in which it was left by Trevor Beckerleg. Hence it is now double strung but with three sets of jacks, two of which pluck one set of strings but in different places giving two distinct timbres.

Our restoration work consisted mainly of re-doing Beckeleg's soundboard repairs which had failed (probably due to the instrument having been kept in excessively dry conditions) and cleaning the soundboard and fixing the rose. The harpsichord was then re-strung with Stephen Birkett's historical brass, and re-voiced, with many of Beckerleg's plectra still being serviceable. The alterations to the set-up of this harpsichord have shed valuable light on the nature of the brass wire available in the 17th century which have contributed to Stephen Birkett's research. During the restoration two CAD drawings were made showing the instrument in its present state and in a probable original one. These are available for purchase.