Nathaniel Mander, ambassador of the harpsichord, has recently launched an online masterclass series exploring the origins of the rich keyboard repertoire.

The harpsichord, known for its elegant and brilliant sound, defined the musical sound-world for centuries. The earliest instrument known to survive dates right back to the 1400s, and by 1750 the harpsichord had developed into an instrument of richness and power. To commence his masterclass series, Nathaniel Mander has released a video for those who have always wondered about how the harpsichord works. In it, he delves into the sophisticated yet simple mechanism that gives this beloved instrument its unique and wondrous sound – many a time traveller’s instrument of choice.

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Within 16 individual episodes of his four-part masterclass series, Nathaniel takes you through the great masterpieces of the period and demonstrates all the necessary techniques and tools required to both appreciate and to perform these wonderful pieces.

The series starts out with a focus on the great Elizabethan masters who left an unrivalled legacy of solo keyboard music. The works of William Byrd (1540–1623), whose music commences the set, continues to fascinate and delight to this day. The unusual combination of earthy spirit and finely wrought, intricate part-writing is at the heart of this style.

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^{In this extract from Masterclass Course 1, Nathaniel explores the vocal aspect in the works of Elizabethan keyboard composers and how that effects the phrasing and shaping. The piece heard is Queen’s Alman by William Byrd.}

The second and third courses focus on Orlando Gibbons (1583–1625) and Thomas Tomkins (1572–1656), respectively, and the final course shows how the style developed with music by John Blow (1649–1708). The entire series ends with Nathaniel’s own performances of several of the pieces as a final bonus.

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^{In this extract from Masterclass Course 3, Nathaniel explores the tuning systems of the 16th century, which add such colour and spice to the music. The piece in question is Tomkins’s divisions on the popular song, ‘What if a day’.}

Lavishly produced and diligently curated, this online masterclass format has become increasingly popular in recent years. Whether you’re a keyboard player, a harpsichord enthusiast, or simply a listener with a general interest in music, the course offers material to engage and delight. You can sign up for a single episode, one of the four-part series, or the full set.

This Christmas, Nathaniel is offering the following promotions:

£50 for a class
£180 for a course, comprising four episodes (20% off)
£560 for the entire course, 16 episodes in total (30% off)

Access to the episodes through Nathaniel’s website is unlimited after purchase. Click here to find out more and book.