Welcome!

Welcome to the new Hubbard web site!
We have added more photographs and streamlined the navigation. We're planning to add more  photographs of historic instruments, our shop personnel in action, and new customer instruments. You'll want to check the site periodically to see what's new.

• A Brief History of Hubbard Harpsichords

• About this Site

If you have a question...
We want to answer it!
Send your questions about Hubbard Harpsichords or its products to hubharp@aol.com. Simpler yet, just click on the "Contact Us" button in the upper right hand corner of any page to send us a message.

Please direct comments or questions about the technical aspects of the web site (things that are not clear, errors, and the like) to rshimko@twrite.com.

Enjoy our web site.
As always, your comments are appreciated.

A Brief History of Hubbard Harpischords

Although there are many harpsichord makers presently working in the United States, few, if any, are without significant debt to Frank Hubbard (1920-1976), his research or his example. He will be remembered as central to the revival of early music in the twentieth century.

For over 300 years the harpsichord was at the center of countless sessions of music-making whether in the salon, palace, church or tavern. During this time, few items could be encountered in daily life to exceed the harpsichord in technological sophistication or value.

Across Europe, master builders such as Ruckers and Moermans in Antwerp, Blanchet and Taskin in Paris and Hass in Germany were each to the harpsichord what Stradivarius, Amati and Guarneri became to the violin. The designs and construction techniques developed in their workshops resulted in instruments of such timeless beauty and magical sound as to influence the tastes of all composers of the period. J.S. Bach, Handel, Scarlatti and Rameau are only the best known of a host of composers who used the unique timber of the harpsichord to produce some of the most varied and exciting keyboard music ever written.

Unfortunately, during the nineteenth century the art of harpsichord making all but died out as the musical world turned its fancy to the piano. By the early twentieth century it became almost impossible to find an artist/craftsman who understood the old masters' secrets and could produce a harpsichord of equal standards.

In 1948 Frank Hubbard and William Dowd conceived the idea of constructing harpsichords which would restore to their own time the sound and sensual beauty of the best classical instruments. Through tireless research by compiling measurements of available antiques, and by examining inventories of the old masters as recorded in local archives throughout Europe, the ancient craft of harpsichord building was recovered and mastered. Now, as the popularity of playing music on original instruments increases and the harpsichord takes center stage with period orchestras, we recognize that theirs was an idea whose time had come.

About the Site

Our web site is divided into six sections. Here are highlights of what you can find in each section:

• About Us
  This is where you are. In this section you can find information about our founder, Frank Hubbard, meet our staff members, and get a few tips on what to look for when you purchase a harpsichord.

• News and Musings
  This is where you'll find news about our workshops, sales, and interesting articles about early keyboard instruments. This section also provides technical articles detailing how to repair common conditions.

• Books, CDs, and Parts
  This section provides a list of books about harpsichords and harpsichord making, harpsichord recordings on CD, and a short list of harpsichord parts that we offer for sale.

• Custom Instruments
  This section shows custom instruments that we have created. Many of these instruments are also available in kit form.

• Instruments for Sale
  This section features instruments that we are offering for sale because we have either created them, restored them, or have them on consignment. If you're looking for a harpsichord, be sure to check this section. Our inventory of new and used instruments varies from time to time. If you let us know what you're looking for, we will notify you when we receive an instrument that meets your needs.

• Harpsichord Kits
  This is where you'll find a selection of the kits that we currently offer including bench kits. This is also where you can  see pictures of Hubbard kits built by our customers.

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