Kenneth Gilbert harpsichord signed VAUDRY A PARIS 1681, recently acquired by the Victoria & Albert Museum, is the only surviving instrument by a member of the Vaudry family.
Released 1978 by The Decca Record Company limited (Argo Division) ZK 56
Also released 1985 by Harmonia Mundi France HMC 1158
Recorded 1978 in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England Production: Ray Emerson
Direction: Maurice Cochrane
Engineer: Maurice Cochrane
Cover Photograph by Merlin Turville-Petre (not the instrument used for the recording !)
Harpsichord on the cover built by Sébastien Garnier, 1747, Two manuals, GG-d3 from the former Michael Thomas Collection and sold in 2018 via an English auction website (thanks Aquae Sulensis for the extra info.)

Side 1
Suite No.1 in G major (Suita c: 1 G dur) (Z: 660)
00:00 1. Prelude
00:31 2. Almand
02:17 3. Corant
03:20 4. (Minuet)
Suite No.2 in G minor (Suita c: 2 g moll) (Z. 661)
04:31 1. Prelude
05:58 2. (Almand)
10:07 3. Corant
12:11 4. Saraband
Suite No.3 in G major (Suita c: 3 G dur) (Z. 662)
14:11 1. Prelude
15:24 2. Almand
18:48 3. Courante
Suite No.4 in A minor (Suita c: 4 a moll)(Z. 663)
20:37 1. Prelude
21:33 2. Almand
24:36 3. Corante
26:15 4. Saraband

Side 2
Suite No.5 in C major, (Z 666)
28:08 1. Prelude
29:29 2. Almand
31:56 3. Corant
33:05 4. Saraband
Suite No.6 in Dmajor (Suita c: 6 D dur) (Z. 667)
34:48 1. Prelude
35:36 2. Almand
38:43 3. (Hornpipe)
Suite No.7 in D minor (Suita c: 7 d moll) (Z. 668)
39:53 1. Almand
43:52 2. Corant
45:32 3. Hornpipe
Suite No.8 in F major (Suita c: 8 F dur)(Z. 669)
46:26 1. Prelude
47:38 2. Almand
50:38 3. Courante
52:36 4. Minuet

The harpsichord signed VAUDRY A PARIS 1681 , recently acquired by the Victoria & Albert Museum, is the only surviving instrument by a member of the Vaudry family. Traditionally this instrument belonged to the Duchesse du Maine, the daughter-in-law of Louis XIV, famous for her patronage of musicians and the concerts given at the chateau of Sceaux. Banished from court in 1718, she probably brought the instrument as part of her furniture to the chateau of Savigny-Ies-Beaune where she was.to live. The harpsichord remained in this house until purchased by the Museum.
The case is decorated in chinoiserie of gold, bronze and silver on
lack lacquer, the interior painted red and gold. During recent
restoration work the original compass of GG to c3 with short octave tuning in the bass was reinstated. The harpsichord has a disposition of 8′ and 4′ registers on the lower manual with a second 8′ unison on the upper keyboard. The player couples the two manuals by drawing the lower keyboard towards him.
Although the harpsichord had undergone certain alterations during the 18th century, it proved possible to return it to its original state since there had been no modification of the intricate barring system of the soundboard nor of the bracing of the thin walnut case. Seventeenth century French harpsichords are rare to have one in its original statemis ·very exceptional and it is of the greatest interest to hear musical textures so different from those of the large 18th century French instrument with which we are now more familiar.
DEREK ADLAM

#Vaudry #JeanAntoineVaudry #KennethGilbert