Jan 09 Pp. 21-22.Indd 22 12/10/08 12:38:06 PM
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
William Dowd (February 28, 1922–November 25, 2008) An Appreciation Larry Palmer William Dowd (moving one of his Dowd caricature by Jane Johnson Gustav Leonhardt and William Dowd at the Smithsonian Institution, May 15, 1983 harpsichords) and Larry Palmer; Boston (1992) (Photograph courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution) Early Music Festival 1983 merican harpsichord maker William material, leather, was used until 1958, In 1972 Dowd, in collaboration with While bolts and bars my days ARichmond Dowd and his business after which Delrin, found to have Reinhard von Nagel, established a sec- control[ed] partner Frank Hubbard set new direc- sound-producing qualities similar to ond shop in Paris, maintaining control (The last two letters added by the editor tions for the modern harpsichord revival quill, was the material of choice. In of this operation until 1983. With the make comment superfl uous) with their gradual return to the historic 1959 Dowd established his own inde- resulting availability on two continents, construction principles of fi ne harpsi- pendent shop in Cambridge, Massachu- his harpsichords, highly regarded for From silent night chord making. English majors at Har- setts. Continuing his study of antique their tone, touch, and reliability, were (Only since acquiring a telephone an- vard University, each apprenticed with instruments, he brought the designs of played by many professional harpsi- swering machine) a noted 20th-century revivalist: Hub- his own harpsichords ever closer to his- chordists. At the time of his retirement bard worked with Arnold Dolmetsch toric specifi cations, eventually dispos- and the closing of his American shop, If my complaints could passions move in England, Dowd with John Challis in ing with register pedals and the 16-foot Dowd had produced 529 instruments in (Deliver them at No. 100 [Tremont Michigan. The two young men reunited stop. Keyboards were built to antique the United States and an additional 250 Street, address of the Dowd Shop]) in 1949 to set up their harpsichord work- measurements after 1965, and begin- in Paris. shop in Boston. ning in 1971 sliding keyboards were The Diapason celebrated William Shall I sue? In 1956 an instrument designed af- introduced that allowed a transposition Dowd’s 70th birthday in its issue of Here let my life ter the work of Pascal Taskin was in- from modern to “old” pitch by moving February 1992. The front cover dis- (Bostonia amata) troduced. The usual modern plectrum them laterally. played images of four Dowd harpsi- chords; inside (pages 12–20) were four- Now, o now I needs must part SAINT PAUL R.C. CATHEDRAL OF PITTSBURGH teen tributes and reminiscences, plus (Bostonia abandonata) photographs, Jane Johnson’s caricature ANNOUNCES RE-INAUGURAL EVENTS OF THE of the harpsichord maker posing as jazz Shall I strive with words to move? 1962 RUDOLF VON BECKERATH ORGAN great Earl “Fatha” Hines, and a com- (Well, it actually was done with a van) RESTORATION BY TAYLOR & BOODY ORGAN BUILDERS plete musical score of composer Glenn OF STAUNTON, VIRGINIA Spring’s William Dowd: His Bleu. The Welcome to all the pleasures short essays were written by Fenner (Of Alexandria’s feast [the Dowds’ re- Douglass, Frederick Hyde, Albert Full- tirement address]) TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2009 - 7:30PM er, David Fuller, Miles Morgan, Robin JAMES DAVID CHRISTIE Anderson, Donald Angle, Sheridan Love those beams OBERLIN CONSERVATORY, HOLY CROSS COLLEGE, THE BOSTON SYMPHONY Germann, John Fesperman, William (Oh, those joists and summers in the WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2009 - 7:30PM Christie, Dirk Flentrop, Arthur Haas, olden workshops) ORGAN AND CHOIR – ST. PAUL CATHEDRAL CHOIR Tom and Barbara Wolf, and Gustav Le- KENNETH DANCHIK, ORGANIST; DONALD FELLOWS, DIRECTOR onhardt—a distinguished group of con- Thou tunest this world tributors, indeed. I am indebted to Bill’s (Which is mean and needs a lot of tun- FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2009 – 7:30PM wife Pegram, who survives him, for the ing) ORGAN LECTURE/DEMO/CONCERT BY DONALD FELLOWS concept of this celebratory issue, as well ST. PAUL CATHEDRAL as for her considerable help in bringing If music be the food of love it to publication. (Eat on) SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2009 – 4:00PM I invite each of our readers to seek HARALD VOGEL out this kaleidoscopic view of William Fine knacks for ladies BREMEN, GERMANY Dowd’s extraordinary contributions to (A man is never too old) MONDAY, MAY 18, 2009 – 8:00PM our shared history and to classical music JEREMY FILSELL culture both in the United States and in What if I never speed ORGANIST OF THE BASILICA OF THE NATIONAL Europe. Such illuminating anecdotes (Keep your Chevrolet) from those who knew him throughout SHRINE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, WASHINGTON, D.C. his productive life are especially to be Flow my tears SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2009 – 4:00PM treasured now that many of the writers (For good humidifi cation) CATHEDRAL ORGANISTS IN CONCERT are no longer with us. Also to be noted J.R. DANIELS, KENNETH DANCHIK, DONALD FELLOWS is Bill’s response to the various contri- Lachrimae ST. PAUL CATHEDRAL butions, his chance to “set the record (The same, for another kind of custom- straight” as it were, published one year er) THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2009 – 7:30PM later in The Diapason for February JOAN LIPPINCOTT 1993 (page 11). An old plebeian let me die PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY Especially endearing was the contri- (H.P. must have been confusing W.D. bution from the leading harpsichordist with another maker) WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 – 7:30PM of the age, Gustav Leonhardt, whose DAME GILLIAN WEIR whimsical offering was an inevita- O lull me, couch’d in soft repose THE UNITED KINGDOM ble choice to conclude the words in (Bless you, but isn’t that a little early?) TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009 – 7:30PM Dowd’s honor. I place it here as trib- WILLIAM PORTER ute to both the master builder and Now the curtain has fallen and we say THE EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC, AND MCGILL UNIVERSITY the master player who so often made “rest well,” dear friend. Your legacy of Dowd instruments reveal their beau- SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009 – 4:00PM nearly 800 instruments assures an honored ties in indelible performances. place in the history of the harpsichord. KENNETH DANCHIK ST. PAUL CATHEDRAL Dowland and Purcell Choosing their [Freely adapted from my entry “Dowd, Texts with William Dowd in Mind William (Richmond)” in The Harpsichord and No Admission Fees O how happy’s he, who from bus’ness Clavichord—An Encyclopedia (Igor Kipnis, For Details: Cathedral Music Office, 412-621-6082 free Editor). New York and London: Routledge [email protected] Music for a while (an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group), (Yes, a very good while—since 1949) 2007).] 22 THE DIAPASON Jan 09 pp. 21-22.indd 22 12/10/08 12:38:06 PM.