Israel Gellinger clavichord 1670


Double- and triple-fretted clavichord after the original of Israel Gellinger, Frankfurt 1670, Museum de Groesbeeck-de Croix, Namur, Belgium

The clavichord " Israel Gellinger 1670 " is a  very small instrument showing an good balance between a rather clear tone and limited dimensions. This clavichord is fretted from the second octave. The first octave is complete, except C#. The instrument is a faithful reconstruction of the clavichord signed in 1670 by Israel Gellinger, organist and maker of musical instruments in Frankfurt. This beautiful instrument, kept at the Museum de Groesbeeck-in Croix in Namur, Belgium, is an important witness of keyboard instruments make in Germany in the middle of the 17th century.

For a full description of the original instrument, with photographs and details, click here or see : Pierre Verbeek, The Israel Gellinger 1670 Clavichord, De Clavicordio VIII, Proc. of the VIII International Clavichord Symposium, Magnano, 5-8 September 2007, Ed. by Bernard Brauchli, Alberto Galazzo, Judith Wardman, ISBN 978-88-900269-5-9, p. 215-233.

• C-c3 without C #
• 48 notes
• double- and triple-fretted
• meantone temperament ¼ of comma
• 23 pairs of strings (choirs)
• pitch A = approximately 440 Hz with brass stringing
• c2 scaling: 234 mm
• outer dimensions 97.0 X 30.0 X 7.5 cm