New harpsichord for Sidney

The College has recently taken delivery of a magnificent new harpsichord, which must rate as one of the finest instruments in Cambridge.

Built by Huw Saunders, this 'Bach' harpsichord (after the greater instrument maker Michael Mietke who died in 1719) has now been given pride of place in Sidney chapel and will be used for chamber recitals and for special evensongs.

The harpsichord is an essential instrument for the performance of early sacred and secular music in college, and will be central to the formation of a college Baroque orchestra.

With the proposed chamber organ Sidney will become the ideal venue in Cambridge for the performance of period music, attracting both the finest musical students to the college and visiting professional musicians from throughout the UK and the rest of the world.

The College would like to pay special thanks to alumnus, Brian Moody (Classics, 1962) for his generous donation which has enabled the purchase of the harpsichord.

This is an archived news story, first posted in 2011.