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Joel explained the construction briefly at the concert and in more detail at his masterclass, and also the particular use of the pedal clavichord. The complex consisted, on this occasion, of two clavichords set one above the other and a pedal section containing 8ft and 16ft strings below these. The pedal section was made up of a well thought-out pedal keyboard set below the box containing the long strings of the bass pedal notes. Clearly, this was an ideal form to provide organists, who worked with a pedal organ professionally, with an instrument to practice on. Remember that the large organs had to be pumped by hand and whoever pumped them had to be paid, besides which they were mostly in churches which were not necessarily open when one wished to practice. Hearing Joel play it became quite clear that this was not the quiet instrument that we all thought, but one that is eloquent and adequate, as on this occasion, for an audience of over eighty persons.

I asked him why he had not made a CD to illustrate the exciting sound of his research and I am pleased to say that he has just made one which is in the process of being finally mixed and edited. When this is published it has to on the shelves of all organ and keyboard players, and indeed musicologists. There is no question that it will be of vital importance and will certainly bring about a revolution in certain sections of the world of musicology.

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