18.12.23, 19:00, Reconstruction of the 1640 Ioannes Ruckers Virginal

Since 2018, a group of researchers from KASK & Conservatorium has been engaged in the extensive study and reconstruction of a virginal attributed to the renowned Antwerp harpsichord maker Johannes Ruckers. This instrument, from the collection of the Royal Dutch Antiquarian Society and made in 1640, is on long-term loan to the Rijksmuseum.

Led by Manu Frederickx, conservator of musical instruments at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and guest researcher at KASK & Conservatorium, this team carried out an in-depth analysis of the construction and decoration of this instrument. The international project involves collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Manu Frederickx), the Rijksmuseum (Giovanni Paolo di Stefano, Paul van Duin), KASK & Conservatorium (Manu Frederickx, Tamar Hestrin-Grader, Frank Hollinga, Mané van Veldhuizen), Leiden University (Tamar Hestrin-Grader) and the Netherlands Institute for Conservation, Art and Science (NICAS), among others.

On 18 December 2023 at 19:30 (walk-in 19:00), Manu Frederickx will present this research project. He works as a conservator of musical instruments at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and a researcher at KASK & Conservatorium.

Harpsichordist, clavichordist and KOG member Menno van Delft will play the just-completed reconstruction of the virginal and a harpsichord, both built in 1640 by Ruckers. The harpsichord has been given on long-term loan to the Rijksmuseum by the descendants and heirs of Count Alexander II von Velen and his wife Countess Alexandrine von Velen, born Countess Huyn von Amstenrade and Geleen (Province of Limburg). The programme will be composed of 16th- and 17th-century keyboard music from Dutch collections.

Menno van Delft performs worldwide as soloist and continuo player. He teaches at the conservatory of his hometown Amsterdam and at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hamburg. He regularly lectures and publishes on topics such as early keyboard repertoire, playing techniques, performance practice and tuning and temperament.