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PETER  BAVINGTON
Clavichord Maker in London 1987–2020

WORKSHOP CLOSURE

This workshop closed in July 2020. I can no longer make instruments or sell supplies, but this web-site remains live; all existing reference material and links will be maintained and extra items will be added from time to time. If anyone needs help or advice about an instrument made by me, please contact me by e-mail.

NEWS

Over the last six months or so, I have been working on an article about the fretted clavichord in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, which bears the name of Peter Hicks. This is now almost ready for submission to the Galpin Society Journal, where I hope it will be published in 2027. It will present some completely new information about the clavichord itself, the maker, and two previous owners.

Meanwhile I am sad to report the death last month of one of my colleagues, Dr Alastair Laurence of Whitby, North Yorkshire. He was well known as a piano designer and maker, and latterly the owner and managing director of the Broadwood firm; he was also the author of two books about the London Piano industry (Five London Piano Makers and More London Piano Makers) which are still in print and can be obtained from Keyword Press. He was also a proud Yorkshireman, and the author of several books on local history – and a renowned Jazz pianist.

 

CONTENTS

 (scroll down to see the complete list)

ESSAYS ON CLAVICHORD SUBJECTS

The following informal essays on clavichord subjects appeared originally in the blog ‘Workshop News’:

RESEARCH DOCUMENTS

This section contains lists and other documents which will be of interest mainly to those doing research into keyboard instruments, particularly the clavichord.

Please feel free to print out or download any of these documents. I would be particularly grateful for additions, corrections or comments.

ESSAYS ON OTHER SUBJECTS

VIDEOS

This link will take you to a performance by Julian Perkins of Handel’s lovely Air in G minor, HWV 467, played in the composer’s London bedroom on a small clavichord made by Peter Bavington in 2016.

Here you can hear Timothy Roberts playing Domenico Scarlatti’s Sonata in D minor, K 9, on an ‘Iberian’ clavichord made by Peter Bavington in 2001.

This link is to a performance by Richard Smith of J. J. Froberger’s Lament for Ferdinando IV, FbWV 612, played on a fretted clavichord after Bodechtel made by Peter Bavington in 2008.

 

SOME CONTEMPORARY CLAVICHORD PLAYERS:

SOME OTHER INTERESTING WEB-SITES:

 

BIOGRAPHY

PETER BAVINGTON was born in 1941 and educated at William Ellis School, London and Exeter University. After working for many years as a Civil Servant, he decided in 1982 on a complete change of career and enrolled at the London College of Furniture (now part of London Metropolitan University), where he studied early keyboard instruments under Lewis Jones. In 1985 he obtained his Higher National Diploma in Musical Instrument Technology with distinction in every unit.

He then spent two years working with John Rawson before founding his own London workshop, making and restoring harpsichords, clavichords and fortepianos. In addition to individual musicians, his customers included the Royal Academy of Music, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Hochschule der Künste Berlin.

Peter retired from instrument making in 2020. He continues to undertake research into all aspects of clavichords and other musical instruments, and is the author of numerous articles (click here for list) and the book Clavichord Tuning and Maintenance, now in its third edition. He was a founder member and past Chairman of the British Clavichord Society (now disbanded). In 2020 he received the Anthony Baines Memorial Prize, which is awarded annually for an outstanding contribution to organology, the study of musical instruments.

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last update 6 February 2024