History and use of the claviorgan
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Date
27/11/2013Item status
Restricted AccessEmbargo end date
31/12/2100Author
Smith, Poppy Eleanor Win
Metadata
Abstract
The claviorgan is an instrument that has long been neglected by Organologists, and
considered a mere oddity in the history of stringed-keyboard instruments. However, the
combination of strings and pipes in a single entity permeates musical history from the
late-1400s through to present day in a variety of guises.
The thesis will present a new nomenclature using the term claviorgan as an ‘umbrella
term’ under which a variety of different combinations of stringed-keyboard and pipes
will be considered and defined: this recognises that there are distinct trends in
instrument building, and different probable uses for the various claviorgans.
Through a series of case-studies of building-schools and epochs, the thesis will consider
both the written evidence for combination instruments from published musical theory
books and from other documentary evidence, as well as the evidence from the surviving
instruments. It is not the intention to provide detailed organological studies of
surviving instruments, as there are not enough examples from many of the building
schools to make a reasonable comparison. However, these instruments will be
considered in terms of their status, their owners, and in particular the balance between
the elements.
Little or no music has survived that was written specifically to exploit claviorgans, and
the thesis examines the possible reasons for this lack of music in light of keyboard
repertoire in general, and the lack of distinction between music for harpsichord and
organ in the greater part of music history. The thesis also discusses the concept of solo
music versus accompaniment and continuo, with a particular focus on the claviorgan as
an instrument for ensemble performance as evidenced by contemporary descriptions of
their use and by the status the instruments held.
This discussion will be followed and complemented by an appendix of surviving
instruments and references to combination instruments compiled by the author.