Chelveston 2022

Sadly, our parties in 2020 and 2021 were cancelled owing to circumstances beyond our control. But ever optimistic, the Village Hall has been booked for the 9th April 2022.

A group of something over forty of us came together April 2019 for an enjoyable party - our third at Chelveston. We assembled sixteen pianos, clavichords, virginals, and spinets, and we were entertained to some spirited playing by our volunteer musicians. There were a couple of short talks, but mostly it was an opportunity to chat to each other, make friends, and enjoy numerous tea and lunch-breaks. Planning for Chelveston 2020 is well in hand, and although it’s early days, it looks as if we have a full house already. The party will be on Saturday, April 18th, with the Friday afternoon for setting up the instruments and tuning, and an evening meal at the Star & Garter for those who are staying overnight. Details will be maintained on the this page of this website, including a provisional list of the instruments we will have.

I'm afraid that the event is 'sold out' now, but I will be happy to maintain a standby-list in case there are any cancellations.

Lizzie Cooke and Chris Sansum playing a duet on spinets by Thomas Hitchcock (1735) and Edward Blunt (1704) at Chelveston 2019.

Some of the Instruments for 2020 (Provisional)

Square Piano by Johannes Pohlman

The unusual gravity-operated damper system from the Pohlman - the only example known

My favourite square piano, Broadwood 1787.

Replica of a spinet by Thomas Barton, built by Andy Durand.

Replica by David of a Ruckers 'muselaar' virginal - hopefully to be completed by April!

Clavichord by Mark Stevenson, c. 1980

Spinet after Thomas Hitchcock by Stephen Robinson

Original spinet by Thomas Haxby

Clavichord by Roger Murray

Replica by Malcolm Rose of the famous 1712 Keene & Brackley spinet (this is the original, seen during its recent restoration in Chelveston.)

More to follow.

The papers presented at our 2017 Spinet Day are still available:

Harpsichords and Spinets shown at the In[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [1.2 MB]

The Spinets of the Hitchcock Dynasty - P[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [917.8 KB]