Colin Booth Early Keyboard Instruments
Colin Booth Instruments Contacts Links

Colin BoothAbout Colin Booth

Colin has been a harpsichordist and harpsichord-maker for more than 30 years.

As a maker:

He has sold around 300 instruments worldwide, and can point to an unusually large proportion of these sales, to Early Music professionals, and harpsichordists in particular. The playing qualities of his instruments have an edge over those of many makers, due to his sensitivity as a player, to touch and response.

Customers include :

  • In Canada: Colin Tilney (four instruments)

    •
  • In Denmark: Vicky Boeckmann, Lars Ulrik Mortensen

    •
  • In Germany: Christine Daxelhofer, Irene Muller-Glasewald, Kristian Nyquist

    •
  • In Switzerland: The late Michel Piguet, Sabine and Thomas Kaipainen, Ralph Stelzenmuller

  • In the UK: Lisa Beznosiuk, Nancy Hadden, Stephen Preston, Clare Shanks; and harpsichordists Bridget Cunningham, Steven Devine (two instruments), Anthony Halstead, Steven Hollas, Nicholas Kraemer, David Pollock, David Roblou, Paul Simmonds, John Wellingham, and Christine Wiffen.

    • Recent commissions include a 2-manual harpsichord after the French original of 1681 by Antoine Vaudry, for Trinity College of Music, London (2006) and an Italian harpsichord for harpsichordist Richard Lester.

    As a Player:

    After initial training as a pianist and organist, he studied with Colin Tilney. He has played in countries from Denmark to South Africa, as soloist, continuo-player, and director. He has given live concerts for Denmark Radio, and recorded incidental music for British Independent Television. He also teaches in his own area of South-West England, and is a regular contributor to the Dartington International Summer School.

    Since 1991 Colin has released 12 CDs of solo harpsichord music. His latest, of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, has been enthusiastically received:

          “For me this recording stands out in a crowded field” -
           Noel O’Regan. Early Music Review, August 2011.

    For details of all Colin’s recordings, and to purchase online, visit: www.soundboard-records.co.uk.

    As an Author:

    Did Bach really Mean That? Deceptive Notation in Baroque Keyboard Music

    Colin’s seminars at Dartington Summer School resulted in a ten-year project to encapsulate the content of those classes. This highly readable 350-page handbook has been welcomed by musicians of the highest rank, but is intended to give pleasure and enlightenment to all players who enjoy exploring the music of Bach and his contemporaries - whatever their chosen instrument.

          “The book is absolutely first-class: very learned yet imaginative
          and totally approachable. So much to learn from it, and so much
          to admire.
          Congratulations. I have already recommended it to several keyboard
          players.”
          Sir Roger Norrington

    Visit www.didbach.co.uk