Presentation
The workshop of William Horn is located near Brescia (a city with a long tradition in the art of musical instruments making), in the fifteenth century historical Palazzo Maggi-Trebeschi.
Himself a musician and performer, William Horn has been able to combine his interest in musical performance with the organological study, and the construction of Harpsichords and Keyboard Instruments for Early Music.
Harpsichords, spinets, virginals, clavichords, fortepianos, claviorgans
His instruments - harpsichords, spinets, virginals, clavichords, fortepianos, claviorgans - are exact copies of historical instruments from museums or private collections, chosen as the most representative examples of the various schools of instruments making.
Every instrument is individually hand-made using historical techniques of construction. The quest for quality, with perfection as the ultimate and unattainable goal, is the guiding principle of all his work.
Every instrument is a unique creation whose craftsmanship is guaranteed to be authentic and comes with an unlimited warranty against construction defects.
Materials
The woods used are of only the finest quality (usually of italian provenance), and are personally selected and milled from William Horn.
The strings used for all the instruments are made from alloys determined by metallurgical analysis, and they give his instruments an exceptionally full and sonorous tone.
The hardware (hinges, nails, pins, etc.) is all hand-made and hammered from hot metal. All varnishes used are made from natural materials, and all keyboards and action parts (including jacks and registers guides) are made by hand in the shop.
The final part of the work, which includes the voicing of the plectra and the regulation of the action is accomplished with not only technical competence, but with musical understanding as well; the touch and the tone of the instrument depend largely on this phase of the work.
Besides the instruments listed in the catalogue, it is, of course, also possible to make copies of other extant instruments (Drawings), eventually with modifications to suit the customer’s specific needs.
Services
William Horn , in addition to building new instruments, provides the following services upon request: tuning, repair and maintenance, restoration, instruments hire, instruction in historical tunings, assistance to academies, orchestras and other institutions, and for specific events as needed.
William Horn
William Horn, since completing his own musical studies in organ and harpsichord, has devoted himself to harpsichord building under the guidance of Grant O’ Brien (Russell Collection, Edinburgh).
As a performer, he has played concerts in Europe and in Asia, with broadcast and CD recordings (Ensemble Florilegium, Wien Barock, P&B Dusi).
Since 1988 he has been working mainly as a harpsichord maker in his workshop in Brescia.
His instruments are currently in Italiy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Croatia, Spain, Russia, U.S.A., Azerbaijan, belonging to musical institutions and academies of music, concert artists, and teachers at conservatories and academies.
These instruments have been used for concerts and recordings by G. Leonhardt, K. Gilbert, B. van Asperen, O. Dantone, A. Marcon, L. F. Tagliavini, F. Cera, M. Barchi, J. L. Gonzales Uriol, A. Staier, C. Hogwood, W. Christie, J. F. Malgoire, J. Savall, F. Bruggen, A. Bylsma, F. Biondi, E. Kirkby, C. Abbado.
