Robert Davies Harpsichord

La Casa’s beautiful English harpsichord was built in 1979 by Robert Davies. It consists of two keyboards with a typical disposition of two 8-foot choirs and one 4-foot choir. In other words, the upper keyboard contains one soft 8-foot sound and the lower keyboard has a more resonant 8-foot and 4-foot register. The upper keyboard can be coupled to the lower keyboard by physically pushing in the top keyboard, and all of the various choirs are turned on or off by use of three different levers. Lastly, there is a buff stop which allows the lower manual to resemble a most agreeable and dulcet lute sound. The motto Sic Transit Gloria Mundi on the inner part of the lid means “worldly things are fleeting.”