The Program at the New World Symphony “America’s Orchestral Academy” - Michael Tilson Thomas’s creation in South Florida - was about Baroque music.  It was exquisitely performed with an entertainingly versatile conductor and arranger, Robert King, who also played one of the harpsichords on the stage.  I immediat4ely thought of Ruth who owns at least one and I hope she still plays that instrument.

With my hearing, even with my new souped up aids; I could barely make out the tinkle of the strings plucked by the larger of the two instruments.  One, long and thin something like a coffin and easily lifted and moved by two men, had two tiers of keys.  The other, in place over to the right behind the cellists, could be heard which made me wonder for I could not tell if Mr. King’s energetic hitting keys while conducting was actually putting out music.

The concert was wonderful as the young musicians responded to ancient notes and directed by a conductor who was born in 1960!  That was hard to believe but the music, not usually heard these days, was beautiful and told of a time when this was the radio, TV and movies as well as the internet and satellite productions that we enjoy today.  When the music was produced on hand-made instruments playing notes written by Lully, Bach, Corelli and Vivaldi there would be anticipation of more for even the most mediocre was not enough.

But, this is about harpsichords and in this New World Symphony production there were two.  I don’t think I ever heard harpsichords played in a concert before. But, Ruth West not only knew how to play such an instrument, she owned one.  She and I once briefly discussed the possibility of her buying one available in kit form and I would build it for her.  That never happened but she brought her instrument along with her everywhere she lived and it is in her apartment now near Princeton, NJ.  Ruth was, with husband Charles, doing missionary work in the Philippines. I’m pretty sure she acquired her harpsichord earlier or after she came back to the States. She is a musician – in the sense she can read music AND play that rarely heard instrument. I can build the instruments and have produced three dulcimers, one lap and the other two hammered.  I have made a pretense of playing but the notes elude me while my spirit is willing there is something that doesn’t like a reader who cannot make sense of scores.

We are so fortunate that in a little corner of South Florida, culture is found and reigns. Would that I could hear the harpsichord’s sounds a bit better.