Here are a couple of uploads I just did to YouTube. These recordings were made on the hottest day I manged to find. There is that unmistakable hiss in the background from the very badly required A/C running. The temperature outside was around 94 and the humidity was around 88%. I tried turning off the A/C when recording, but then I couldn't see because I was sweating so much - it kept dripping into my eyes.

These were performed on my Roland C-30 Digital Harpsichord.

The first is a Prelude from JS Bach. BWV 902 in G major.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ammc_wlroZM

I didn't repeat the second half because my niece managed to come bursting into the room. I had to do some graceful (hopefully) editing to cut out the second part that got munged.

The next video is a Ground from William Croft. This is the first piece in his Suite No. 3 in C-minor. This piece was once attributed to Henry Purcell and there is a slightly different version printed above the main one on in this edition by Stainer & Bell. I did an amalgamation of the two versions because I like what was done in both of them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK9bihmeaZU

I've heard this taken at various tempos. This is the one that I like.

The tuning is the Werkmeister and the pith is Baroque at A-415.

John

Well done, John!

What a pleasure to hear these pieces with the timbre of a harpsichord. I like your tempo, and you do a great job with the steady rhythm and just enough ritard for the cadences. Thanks for sharing these.

I love that little Roland C-30. May I ask what the touch feels like? Is it more like a harpsichord or a digital piano? It looks like fun to play.

Hi Heidi,

The touch is interesting. They've gone through great lengths to give it a harpsichord touch. The action has a little bit of a click to it and is very shallow. When multiple strings are "plucked" there is the staggering effect so they don't all sound at the same time. This is true for a real harpsichord and they've emulated this very nicely. This an electronic instrument and does have its caveats, but heck how can I fit 2 double-manual instruments, a fortepiano, and two organs into a room that also has my virginal, large unfretted clavichord and my grand piano in it?

I agree it is a lot of fun to play and when it's too late to play the piano, and I'm too tired to fuss over the clavichord, which doesn't like the humidity at all, I play this. It's great to play Scarlatti on and with the different stops just like a real harpsichord I almost forget that the instrument is a grand faux harpsichord.

I thank your for the compliment on my steady time. I work really hard at that all the time and I worry if I speed up or not. In the Ground, this is partiularly important because of the steady background.

If you're interested in purchasing a C-30, look up Bannana Music online. This is where I got mine. Their pricing was reasonable and I ended up with even better deal after there was a big delay in shipping.

John

Thumbs up john!
Check out my video
http://www.youtube.com/user/SimonLoOo

Hi John -

Excellent work - thanks for sharing !!

The Roland is an intriguing instrument - and you video was my first introduction to it !!

I had to chuckle when you mentioned the 94 degree temp and 88% humidity. I've lived in New England and know how miserable it can be in the summer. On the other hand, 94 degrees is considered cool here in Phoenix...since our humidiy is usually less than 20%. [Today its going to get up to 106 !!]

Good luck with your studies this year -

Best Wishes -

Carey

Not saying that's impossible (it isn't), but that means the surface dewpoint was nearly 90 degrees which is very rare (as in doesn't happen) even in places like Houston.

Did you mean the indoor % relative humidity?