British Harpsichord Music: Sources v. 1

"British Harpsichord Music, Volume I" details the original manuscript and printer sources of harpsichord music in Britain up to the end of the 18th century, later editions of the sources and music contained in them, and 20th century British music for the harpsichord. "Harpsichord music" is interpreted widely, and includes much music that was also played on other keyboard instruments, together with harpsichord arrangements of music originally written for other media. The book provides for the first time a full conspectus of the surviving harpsichord music written by British composers, and harpsichord music by foreign composers published in this country. John Harley's introduction considers the nature of the sources, the extent to which they represent those which must once have existed, the circumstances under which they were written or published and their authority.
He also discusses the probable history of several important manuscripts and draws attention to the great growth in the publication of harpsichord music in 18th century Britain, the subsequent interest in the harpsichord as an "historical" instrument, the development of musical scholarship as reflected in editions of harpsichord music, and the new interest of composers in the instrument in the present century. This book, which includes a bibliography of books and articles dealing with the sources, and a composer index, should be an indispensable reference tool for professional and amateur keyboard players, scholars, librarians, students and anyone interested in the harpsichord and its music.