It's an innocent question with a complicated answer.
When Bradley Brookshire performed in the Vocal Chamber Music concert on 5/26/2024, he arrived the day before to let the harpsichord acclimate to the space.
First, he had to select the harpsichord for the concert from his collection.
Brookshire explained "The national design styles of French, Flemish, German, and Italian harpsichords yield a distinctive sound that matches their respective repertoires well."
When Bradley Brookshire performed in the Vocal Chamber Music concert on 5/26/2024, he arrived the day before to let the harpsichord acclimate to the space.
First, he had to select the harpsichord for the concert from his collection.
Brookshire explained "The national design styles of French, Flemish, German, and Italian harpsichords yield a distinctive sound that matches their respective repertoires well."
Once he chose the harpsichord for our concert, he had to carefully pack it in his car. It was a close fit from windshield to back window with no room for human passengers.
Brookshire spent several hours practicing and tuning Saturday evening, then did touch ups until the stage had to be cleared for the concert. I saw him trimming something and he explained that the plucking is done by a plectrum or quill (from a bird feather). As the quills wear out, they have to be replaced or adjusted ("voiced"). While he could use plastic quills, the feather quills, if maintained properly, last nearly as long. And being organic, they have a more natural, pleasing sound (would anybody really countenance a plastic violin?).
All went well with Bradley Brookshire and harpsichord holding their own in a lovely concert with Lucy Fitz Gibbon, Joseph Lin, William Frampton, and Michael Katz.
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