Virginal | Francesco Poggio | Circa 1620
Virginal | Francesco Poggio | Circa 1620
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This low-key virginal may look out of place among the grand, elaborately decorated instruments nearby, but instruments like this were a common sight in the 17th century. Most keyboards of the time featured simple decoration or none at all. When virginals fell out of fashion many were thrown away. The instruments that survived were usually those that looked the most pleasing.
This instrument is of the ‘false inner-outer construction’ favoured by some Italian builders, giving the impression of a cypress instrument with an outer case. The most interesting feature of the instrument is the split accidental keys provided for d#/eb and for g#/ab, designed to allow the keyboard to be tuned in meantone and play in a wider range of keys. In modern equal temperament these notes are equivalent but a short demonstration of this instrument will reveal the difference. This type of keyboard was used for only a short period with surviving instruments from a small number of Italian cities. Purchased in 1984 with the assistance of the Government's Local Museums Purchase Fund, and the Friends of St Cecilia's Hall.
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