Virtual Vincenzo

Welcome

In 1975 Decca made a vinyl recording of a collection of Scarlatti's sonatas. These pieces were played on a harpsichord constructed by Vincenzo Sodi in 1782. The Vincenzo Sodi harpsichord is by all accounts one of the most authentic instruments surviving and very much in keeping with the instrument that Scarlatti would have been composing on.

The harpsichord is currently kept at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter and is not currently on show to the public but will be displayed in 2011 when they re-open.

Sound Gallery have digitally recorded all the working notes from the harpsichord. We are in the process of re-creating the entire keyboard (or at least an approximation of it) with the aid of the latest computer and MIDI technology. In this way the sampled notes can be transferred to a MIDI controlled master keyboard and then played and heard by the public providing access to this important instrument. We have already developed a full working keyboard which has been used in performance and for recording purposes.

The RAMM have told us that they have plans to display the harpsichord in 2011 and we are exploring the idea of holding presentations, a temporary virtual installation and a possible music event alongside this splendid instrument featuring the unique voice of Sound Gallery's Virtual Vincenzo™

We feel that this principal of virtual, non-destructive restoration can be aplied to all manner of instruments throughout collections and museums nationally (and Internationally). We are currently persuing other avenues including other local collections of early instruments. Sound Gallery are to archive notes from two local virginals built by Rewallin, a Kirkman harpsichord and early pianos amongst other early keyboard instruments nationally and internationally.

Virtual Vincenzo™ - A Re-Creation of Sonic History