A group surrounds a harpsichord playing instruments

Music in the Royal Collection

Many members of the royal family were talented musicians

    BURKAT SHUDI (1702-73)

    Two-manual harpsichord

    1740

    RCIN 11896

    Swiss-born keyboard instrument maker Burkat Shudi came to London in 1718. He was employed by Frederick, Prince of Wales as a tuner and supplied two spinets in 1751 for the young Prince George and his sister Augusta. This is one of the earliest of Shudi's harpsichords to survive. It was originally a claviorgan, with an organ fitted in its lower section. Shudi made instruments with the organ-builder John Snetzler (1710–85) and Handel is thought to have used one in performing his oratorio Saul in 1738.

    Learn more about the harpsichord in this short film:

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