top of page
ROUND TEN GRANT APPLICATIONS
Steven Devine & Satoko Doi-Luck
ENSEMBLE INFO
Ensemble Contact:
Steven Devine
Email:
Ensemble Connect URL
UK Registered Charity No:
n/a
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
“MUSIC FOR TWO ENGLISH HARPSICHORDS”
With the completion of a magnificent copy of the 1777 Fenton House Kirckman harpsichord by Huw Saunders and the unique access I have to the original 1756 Kirckman instrument, formerly of the Finchcocks Collection, a plot was hatched to bring these two instruments together to create unique sonorities – quite unlike the usual “refined” sounds of more ubiquitous Flemish or French instruments.
English harpsichords were prized all over the world and yet in today’s musical circles they are somewhat sidelined as being too large and too distinctive-sounding.
We will be bringing the Saunders copy down to Tunbridge Wells to meet the 1756 original in November and will prepare a self-promoted concert in Waterdown House, Tunbridge Wells. We would then like to create an aural and visual record of the event over the next couple of days. We contacted other organisations have had interest shown by the Oxford Festival of the Arts (hopefully bringing the 1756 Kirckman alongside the 1772 Kirckman resident at the Ashmolean Museum). In addition, a concert has been arranged as part of the Suffolk Villages Festival. This will also use 2 original Kirckman instruments and interest has been shown from the Russell Collection in St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh.
The repertoire has been carefully chosen to exploit the wonderful resonances of these magnificent harpsichords and also to show the sort of music that was regularly played on harpsichords – though today we regard it as exclusively piano music.
We are planning to perform and record Mozart Sonata In D k.448, Clementi Duett in B flat op.1 no.6
Handel Suite in C Minor (reconst Thurston Dart), Gemininai (after Corelli) La Follia (arr Doi-Luck/Devine) and music by JC Bach.
There are serious logistical matters to overcome but we have assembled a team of expert movers, tuners and restorers (in addition to both myself and Satoko being able to maintain and look after instruments ourselves) to enable this project to happen with maximum safety for the precious instruments.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Satoko and Steven have known each other for many years but first played together in 2018 when they were both tutors at “Baroque Week” – a residential adult course held in the Summer. They performed regularly as a duo in the Tutor spotlight concerts for a number of years. Most recently they performed together at the Suffolk Villages Festival performing CPE Bach’s Concerto for harpsichord and fortepiano. Previously they have performed Bach’s Concertos for two harpsichords for the same festival.
Both performers bring a wealth of individual experience in not just performing but also the practicalities of concerts with period keyboards and hope to develop this very special project into a touring outfit with two or more diverse keyboard instruments – with the possibility of not just using harpsichords, but spinets, ottavinos, clavichords and fortepianos – which they already own and transport. This thrilling opportunity to record on two amazing Kirckman harpsichords and create a record of the project is intended to create publicity and longevity for this collaboration – the type of which is so often rejected by promoters as not understanding how such a concept is practical!
Both Satoko and Steven are natural communicators and will always create opportunities to demonstrate and show their instruments to anyone who is interested and it is hoped that, in addition to extensive spoken descriptions of the uniqueness of these particular instruments, workshops, demonstrations, “come and play sessions” (which Steven has been creating with the London Handel Festival and Sinfonia Smith Square) and other activities can be created with further programming.
Resonus Classics have already agreed to record this collaboration and to put out a CD – Steven and Satoko both record for this label and to have their support is wonderful. They will cover all audio recording costs and duplication but all expenses surrounding the recording and performances must be covered by the artists. It is hoped to create a video record of the preparation and recording (and possibly footage of the concert) in addition.
PROJECT COSTS
Number of performers:
Instrumentalists:
Vocalists:
Other:
2
Project Income (£):
Ticketing/Fees:
Public Funding:
Other trusts/foundations - confirmed
Other trusts/foundations - pending
Other
Income - Total sources
2200
0
2000
0
0
4200
Project Expenses (£):
Artists' fees
Artists' travel/accommodation
Venue - Rehearsal/Concert:
Recording/Filming:
Marketing/Publicity:
Management/Contingency:
5000
150
2000
400
0
0
Total Project Costs:
7550
Amount (£) of Grant Requested:
3350
Detailed Budget (Download):
IMPACT OF GRANT
With a Continuo Foundation Grant this unique project, which possibly may not have a chance to happen again (as the future of the original 1756 Kirckman is very unsure at the moment) will be able to be fully documented and recorded and made available to a number of other audiences outside the Tunbridge Wells home of the 1756 harpsichord. We would be able to arrange transport to Suffolk and even to Oxford concerts to meet other, similar instruments.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL
Video from recently formed ensemble (if provided. If not, the CF 'Happy Holidays' video will appear by default)
PDF of detailed programme notes (if provided):
bottom of page