King of Sweden Double-fretted Clavichord

After a 30-year hiatus, I'm diving into instrument construction once again. The last two instruments back in the day were Flemish harpsichords. They are now in the hands of other owners. My newest venture is a King of Sweden double-fretted clavichord. Due to its compact size and the ease of moving it around, I'll be keeping this instrument for my own personal enjoyment. I wish I could recommend the company which manufactures this kit, but I'm afraid that since the departure of David J. Way (who later called himself D. Jacques Way), the Zuckerman Harpsichord Company has gone downhill in the area of customer service and satisfaction. With this clavichord, I also ordered a stand but only received part of it. I didn't do the parts inventory within their time frame (you know, folks, sometimes life intervenes) and came to learn that half the stand was missing. They refused to make good on it, so I will be paying a custom woodworker to construct the balance of the stand for me using what wood Zuckerman generously gave me for the big wad of cash I laid on them. The kit was also missing the bridge pins, and it took two e-mails and a little arguing to get them to send me some. So if you're interested in buying an early instrument kit, I suggest you try Hubbard Harpsichords. While I have no personal experience with Hubbard, they can't be any worse than Zuckerman. Yes, I'm being a little whiney, but at the price I paid for this kit and that stand, I think I'm more than entitled. If you do decide to try Zuckerman, inspect the kit immediately. Print out the parts list and go through everything to make sure it's all there. At least Zuckerman won't be able to pull the old "it's too late" routine on you. My plan is to give you a blow-by-blow description of the building process. Stay tuned.

Fahrvergnuegen!

The official color is charcoal blue pearlescent. It's a 2004 diesel Golf, and I plan to run it on fast food restaurant oil. So eat them French fries and help the effort!

I purchased the car from a dealer in Gainesville, Florida, so to pick it up, a road trip was in order. Any excuse to thaw out, right? We picked up the car and drove along the southern coast, then spent a day in "Nawlins," eating etouffee, touring the French Quarter, and walking the river walk. Later we pigged out on beignets at Cafe du Monde (but of course). Then it was on to Ft. Worth to visit family.

When we got within 4 hours of home, the weather turned sour, and Old Man Winter reminded us he wasn't through with us yet. We've been freezing ever since.

Anyone out there from Tallahassee? I love that town and may need to retire there, although I've heard the heat and humidity are awful. I'll have to return during the summer months to see how well I like it then. As for March, it was perfect!

The deed is done!

The auction is over, and the Audi is soon to have a new home in Ohio. The winning bidder has 15 other diesel vehicles in his possession, so Old Blue is going to a good owner, I believe.

Now that I've sold three of our four existing vehicles out from under us and the remaining car is 300 miles away from us in our son's possession, I guess we better start looking for a couple cars.

My son wants a Rabbit. I could go for that, but a Jetta wagon would also work. Manual transmission is a must. Diesel is not a requirement, but it would be nice. If you have one for sale, drop me an email!

Farewell to an Era

I am not a car person. At least I didn't think I was until now.

For a variety of reasons, we have decided to clear the decks and sell our three oldest vehicles. As I write this, the heart-breaking realization has come to me that the oldest of the three - my beloved 1982 Audi 4000 diesel - has been with me half my life! But more on it a little later.

The first to go is a 1987 Dodge Ram Van. This was given to us by my mother-in-law. I've never cared for it because it's a behemoth. It has a high profile, and I've always been a nervous wreck when driving it. So when it got a bid at eBay Motors, I cheered.

The next car we listed was my husband's 1987 Volkswagen Fox wagon. When we married, my husband became a co-owner of a house I already owned, so the car became our first major purchase together. Our son, who is now a university sophomore, became the car's primary driver/owner about three years ago, but it has a fussy 4th gear, so we listed it on eBay Motors as well. Warts and all, it got a bid almost immediately. While my husband and son really enjoy the car, they realize it is time for it to go to someone who can tinker endlessly with it as it ages further.

The third and final car we listed is my Audi.

This is a gem of a car which I bought new back in early 1982. That makes it 27 years old. That car has been with me for half my life, and I still love it. Sure, the driver's seat needs to be restuffed. But the upholstery is still in great condition.

The odometer doesn't advance with consistency. It tends to lock up in warmer weather. It advances more readily in cold temperatures, which makes it a remarkable car. Imagine! A diesel that likes cold weather!

I have had the left front fender totally replaced to arrest some rust.

The car has been in three fender benders - one of which totaled the little Ford that hit me. The offending driver was an insurance salesman, so everything was fixed by his company to my satisfaction. He hit the right front fender, closest to where my infant son was asleep in his car seat. But my little baby didn't even wake up from the impact. Old Blue (and the car seat and seat belts) got between us and the other car and protected us.

The 1982 Audi 4000 diesel was, and still is, a solid car. My husband affectionately refers to it at times as The Tank. It currently has seven bids with a few days to go, and I'm using the remaining time to come to peace about the sale. I'll probably replace it with something lame while I patiently wait for Audi's release of their 2010 clean diesel vehicle.

Fond memories of this car. I do love it.

Another organ excursion

This morning, I was off to Episcopal Church of Our Savior, again in North Platte, Nebraska, to play a cute little German Baroque Snyder-Neuman of 9 ranks. It is serviced by Darrow Pipe Organ of Onawa, Iowa. The church's organist is Naomi Getty.

Here's the stop list:

Pedal:
Sub Bass 16'
Flute 8'
Brustwerk to Pedal 8'
Brustwerk to Pedal 4'
Hauptwerk to Pedal 8'

Brustwerk:
Koppelfloete 8'
Salicional 8'
Prestant 4'
Hohlfloete 4'
Nazard 2-2/3'
Siffloete 2'
Haubois 8'
Tremelo

Hauptwerk:
Prinzipal 8'
Rohrfloete 8'
Halb Principal 4'
Grave Mixture II
Hauptwerk to Hauptwerk 4'
Brustwerk to Hauptwerk 8'

The organ has 6 generals, chimes, and a delightful 11-bell Cymbelstern. The pipes were made in Holland.

This church burned in the late 1950's or early 1960's and was rebuilt and ready before the pipes for the new organ were completed. Installation was in 1964-1965.


The tower bells are named after the evangelists:
The largest is St. Mark (D). It is the big one because "Mark was the first evangelist." Next is St. Matthew (F), St. Luke (G), and St. John (A). The bells ring at 8:30 a.m., 12 noon, and 5:00 p.m. daily.

Eine kleine Orgelmusik

Today, I visited Our Redeemer Lutheran Church here in North Platte, Nebraska, and played their marvelous Bedient tracker organ. This bright little instrument is Opus 6 and was their first tracker. Built in 1973-74, it was recently rebuilt/refurbished in 2006.


Here is the stop list:

Great, 56 notes
Principal 8
Rohrflote 8
Praestant 4
Octave 2
Sesquialtera II
Mixture III-V
Trompet 8


Pedal, 30 notes
Subbass 16
Octave 8
Octave 4
Nachthorn 2
Fagott 16
Trompet 8

Swell, 56 notes
Gedeckt 8
Spitzflote 4
Principal 2
Quinte 1 1/3
Cymbal III
Regal 8

Couplers
Great/Pedal
Swell/Pedal
Swell/Great
Tremulant

This organ cost $24,000 when it was installed in 1974. I hate to think what it would cost today.

I decided to play a little Buxtehude, Ach Herr, mich armen Suender (always good to focus on how sinful you are when you are in a Missouri Synod Lutheran church) and his Passacaglia, which I just love to play! I also played a couple selections from Frescobaldi's Fiori Musicali, namely Per la Messa <> (Cum Jubilo), Toccata avanti la Messa della Madonna, a kyrie or two, and , Toccata per l'Elevatione.


Rumor has it the organists at this church are not paid. My guess is the organists pay the church for the privilege of playing this delightful instrument.

Flowers Ancient and Modern

These Gerbera daisies bloomed all summer long in my garden and continue to bloom through the autumn.

Daisies are the friendliest flower, or so says Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail.

They're also an ancient flower, judging from the fact that Chaucer wrote of them back in the 14th century:


Of all the floures in the mede,
Than love I most these floures white and rede,
Soch that men callen daisies in our toun.

Here's a gorgeous yellow Gerbera, equally prolific this past summer: