The Clavisimbalum of Henri Arnaut de Zwolle
The
Clavisimbalum,
drawn
and
described
by
Henri
Arnaut
de
Zwolle
in
his
manuscript
of
c1440,
could
be
described
as
an
‘early'
early
keyboard
instrument.
It
has
a
series
of
mechanisms
quite
different
to
the
jacks
and
registers
that
we
are
familiar
with
today.
The
manuscript,
which
is
amongst
the
earliest
known
records
of
what
may
be
termed
a
harpsichord,
shows
five,
"devices
for
attacking
the
strings".
However
in
his
description
of
the
instrument
Arnaut
is
clearly
talking
about
the
first
mechanism,
"the
first
and
best"
as
he
says.
For
my
reconstruction
I
have
made
two
versions
of
this
instrument.
One
using
the
mechanism
that
Arnaut
apparently
favoured,
the
other
using
a
conventional
jack
that
we
recognise
today.
Although
working
perfectly
well
and
effectively
the
original
style
device
is
a
little
more
time
consuming
to
adjust
and
regulate
and
from
the
musicians
point
of
view
the
conventional
jack
is
likely
to
be
more
convenient.
In
both
versions
the
geometry
of
the
instruments
is
identical,
including
overall
sizes,
string
lengths
and
pluck
points.
The
Clavisimbalum
has
a
compass
of
35
notes
chromatic
from
B
-
a"
and
is
strung
with
brass
and
iron
un-damped.
It
has
a
clear
voice,
crisp
and
bright
with
plenty
of
volume.
The
sound
has
been
likened
by
one
observer
to
the
clarsach,
an
early
type
of
harp.
The
Clavisimbalum
is
available
in
a
simple
form
with
an
oiled
finish
or
may
be
embellished
with pierced roses and painted decoration.
More
detailed
information
about
the
Clavisimbalum
reconstruction
is
available
(
here
PDF)
in
an
article
written
in
2002
for
the
FoMRHI
Quarterly.
Click here to Link to PDF:
Listen to the Clavisimbalum here: and here:
Specification:
Compass: B - a" Strung with brass and Iron
Pitch: a' = 554Hz. (4th above a' = 415Hz)
Dimensions: Length 920mm, Width 560mm, Height 120mm.
Weight: Kg. Approx.
©2019 Carl Rennoldson BSc.