Web Links
Listed below are links to some sites that you may find of interest. If you are interested in adding your site to this list, please contact us.
General Early Keyboard Sites
The British Clavichord Society For the encouragement of the understanding and enjoyment of the clavichord.
The British Harpsichord Society For the promotion of awareness, enjoyment, study, playing and ownership of harpsichords and related instruments.
EarlyPianos.org Register of pianos made before 1860. Add your instrument to the database and help contribute to this valuable project.
Early Piano - Fortepiano Information Site David Hunt's website containing registers of extant Broadwood Grand Pianos and dated Longman & Broderip Square Pianos - now maintained by Cesar Hernandez.
The Galpin Society for the Study of Musical Instruments For the publication of original research into the history, construction, development and use of musical instruments. The Society covers all kinds of instruments from around the world, publishing an annual journal and regular newsletters.
Harpsichord & Fortepiano Magazine Specialist publication covering early keyboards, recordings, events, books etc.
Margaret Debenham Research into piano-forte makers of the 18th & early 19th centuries.
The Muzio Clementi Society Website To promote the works of Muzio Clementi (1752–1832) — composer, pianist, instrument maker & music publisher.
Performers & Music
Penelope Cave Harpsichordist based in Fernhurst, West Sussex. Details of forthcoming concerts.
Bela Hartmann Prize-winning classical pianist, based in Haslemere, Surrey. Details of forthcoming concerts.
John Irving Researcher and performer specialising in 18th-century historical performance practice.
Joanna Leach Website dedicated to the memory of Joanna Leach, a pioneering performer on early pianos - play sample tracks of restored square pianos by five makers and hear Joanna's story in conversations and articles.
Anders Muskens Performer on harpsichord and forte-piano currently based in the Hague.
Linda Nicholson Performer on harpsichord, clavichord and forte-piano specialising in baroque, classical and early romantic music, performed on instruments of the period.
Szilvia Takacs Harpsichordist and forte-pianist based in Hungary, with a repertoire from early baroque to classicism, specialising in Haydn's keyboard works.
Musica Omnia Recordings with special emphasis on period performance.
Instrument Collections - Great Britain
Bate Collection, Oxford Housed in the Faculty of Music buildings next to Christ Church College, Oxford, The Bate Collection contains a number of important historical keyboard instruments, in addition to historical woodwind, brass and percussion instruments.
The Cobbe Collection, Surrey Housed in the 18th century mansion at Hatchlands Park, The Cobbe Collection contains around 40 historical keyboard instruments, some of which were owned or played by composers such as Purcell, J.C. Bach, Mahler and Elgar.
Colt Clavier Collection, Bethersden, Kent. Now sadly dispersed, the collection was sold at auction in 2018.
Edinburgh University Collection of Historical Musical Instruments
Containing the Russell Collection of Early Keyboard Instruments and the Donaldson Collection.
Fenton House, London
Containing the Benton Fletcher Collection of Early Keyboard Instruments.
Finchcocks Musical Museum ⁄ The Richard Burnett Heritage Collection Richard & Katrina Burnett's long-lived museum has now closed, the property sold and the collection largely dispersed, although they maintain a core collection of instruments for study and concerts in Tunbridge Wells. The new owners of Finchcocks continue the tradition of music at the house by offering courses on modern instruments. For more information please click here.
Horniman Museum, London 30 keyboard instruments including harpsichords, virginals and pianos, together with the Stephen collection of models of keyboard actions. Viewing by appointment.
The Royal Academy of Music, London A 'living museum', acting as a showcase for the work of performers, composers, instrument makers and scholars from a wide range of musical and other relevant disciplines.
The Victoria & Albert Museum, London An important collection of historical keyboard instruments, containing some highly decorative examples including Queen Elizabeth's Virginals.
Instrument Collections - Europe
Asociación Musical Pablo Navarre, Zaragoza, Aragón With a collection of early keyboard instruments from the 18th century onwards, the Asociación promotes music through educational projects and performances.
The Museum of Musical Instruments, University of Leipzig A large collection of early keyboard instruments dating from the 16th century onwards.
The Sweelinck Collection, Amsterdam The Sweelinck Collection contains around 80 pianos, including many Dutch instruments. Currently the collection is hosted by the Geelvinck Hinlopen Huis Museum in Amsterdam, where a small number of the playable instruments in the collection can seen and heard. There is a regular schedule of recitals.
Instrument Collections - United States
The Frederick Collection, Massachusetts A collection of grand pianos dating from the 1790s to 1907, with performances of period repertoire.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York The Department of Musical Instruments holds approximately five thousand instruments from six continents and the Pacific Islands, dating from about 300 B.C. to the present, including early keyboard instruments.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Over 1100 musical instruments from around the world, from ancient to twentieth century, including historical keyboard instruments.
The National Music Museum, Vermillion, South Dakota The Museum's collections include more than 13,500 American, European, and non-Western instruments from all cultures and historical periods, including many keyboard instruments.
Other - General Interest
Deja Vu Restoration Our colleague Pierre Gaillot's website for his superb antique and furniture restoration.
Abinger Stained Glass Designers and manufacturers of traditional and contemporary stained glass. Repairs, restoration and courses.
Alex Anderson, Photography Photographer, based in Haslemere, Surrey. Wedding, portraits, landscape and commercial photography. Some of Alex's work is here on our website - see the 4 ½ octave clavichord and the Haward spinet pages.
Awamu Beautiful hand-made children‘s clothes and animals from Kampala, Uganda. 100% of the proceeds to small education grants for children affected by HIV.
Chalet Algonquin Luxury catered chalet with character in the Paradiski resort in the French Alps.
The Diary of Samuel Pepys Daily entries from the 17th century diary of Samuel Pepys.
Historic Motor Car Storage De-humidified classic car storage on the Surrey/Sussex/Hampshire borders.
Imogen Man - Artist and Illustrator Portraiture & Animal Portraiture by a top British artist.
Just Piano Stools Stockists of a wide range of piano stools.
Live Sound Hire Everything you need for sound equipment hire.
The Proceedings of the Old Bailey Searchable archive of the proceedings of the Old Bailey, London's central criminal court, 1674 to 1913.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds The RSPB website.
Weather Studios Spectacular storm photography by some intrepid friends.