Sorli Lautenwerk - Harpsichord Customers Reviews

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"Firstly, I must say that I have never enjoyed a new instrument as much as I have this lautenwerck. I have to pull myself away from it to get anything done! The sound is extraordinary. I am so pleased I chose the metal and lute stringing because the variety of colors is astonishing. The harfenzuge is a wonderful addition to the sound possibilities, as is the nasale effect created by the sliding keyboard. It is all too scrumptious for words and the audio clips on your website just don't do it justice. It is far more ravishing in person! I only wish that I had the financial resources to purchase your theorbenflügel, which doubtless is even far more astounding! Yet this one is certainly much easier to transport for performances and seems to be perfect for continuo playing." -Keith Paulson-Thorpe, Director of Music, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Delray Beach, FL

"I never grow tired of playing on this lute-harpsichord. The sound is so pleasing that the time I spend practicing literally flies. It has cleaned up my playing considerably and has changed the way I hear music. Hitherto, with few exceptions, J. S. Bach harpsichord pieces were, to me, little more than finger exercises. My lautenwerck has caused me to hear more like a lutenist/guitarist. The subtle space between the notes has become as important as the notes themselves. Taking time to allow a phrase to bloom, to gracefully wane, and begin again, this is an aural lesson that only a fine instrument can teach. I am grateful to you for providing me with this patient teacher and an enthusiastic musical companion." - J. Mark Dunn, Staten Island, NY

As an organizer of an early music vacation workshop and as a recording engineer, I have encountered enough of Steven Sørli's keyboard instruments to have a fair idea of what they're about. They are meticulously regulated and voiced. The fine architectonics and 17th and 18th century color schemes of these harpsichords and lautenwercke draw one's appraising eye in a most pleasing way. The latter lute-strung singles and doubles have a rich, fundamental presence that fully supports and enriches music involving strings and winds. The sound lends itself to vocal accompaniment, in part because the cues one perceives strongly resemble those of an archlute or theorbo." -Christopher Greenleaf, Rhode Island

"During the autumn of 2002 I performed a couple of concerts using a lautenwerk by harpsichord maker, Steven Sørli. I found the instrument useful for a surprisingly wide range of musical tasks. I was pleased how well it handled a variety of repertoire for the lute as well as music for the harpsichord. For my taste, the lautenwerck sounds at its best playing either lute music or harpsichord music that is lute-inspired such as the stil brise. Froberger sounded great the lautenwerck also worked quite well as a continuo instrument. The particular instrument I was using allowed the performer to adjust the plucking point by sliding the keyboard in and out, imitating the tonal changes created by changing the plucking point on a lute. I found this color variety quite useful for continuo playing." -Andrus Madsen, Boston, MA.

"To experience the lautenwerk that you just sent out to San Diego. I had never seen an instrument like this before. Your workmanship is superb! It is beautifully made, really a lovely instrument. The sound was really a treat. It has a sweet, charming tone that really fits so nicely with early music. I had read about lautenwerken and knew that you built them. It was a real treat to hear the real thing! Wonderful work!"-John Seal, San Diego Harpsichord Society

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SØRLI Lautenwerke and Harpsichords

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