Harpsichord

This major is designed for students planning a performing or teaching career in Harpsichord performance of both solo repertoire and continuo practice for music of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.

All students who plan to major in harpsichord, including transfer students from other colleges and universities, must audition prior to the commencement of the academic year. Specific requirements for the audition are outlined on the B.Mus. application form. Students in the first or second year of a Bachelor's program in Piano or Organ who demonstrate an aptitude for harpsichord performance may apply to change their major to Harpsichord.

Students in this major will be expected to attain annual levels corresponding approximately to those given below:

1. End of First Year. J.S. Bach: French Suite; F. Couperin: Suite from Bks. I-II; Byrd: Pavan and Galliard; Frescobaldi or Froberger: Canzona or Ricercar; J.C. Bach: Sonata.
2. End of Second Year. J.S. Bach: Toccata; L. Couperin: Suite; Gibbons: Fantasia; Frescobaldi or Froberger: Toccata; Haydn: early Sonata; continuo work (from figured basses) in small ensembles.
3. End of Third Year. J.S. Bach: English Suite or Partita; Rameau: Suite; Rossi or Picchi: Toccata; Sweelinck: Chromatic Fantasy; C.P.E. Bach: Sonata Wq.51; continuo work (from figured and unfigured basses) in large and small ensembles; chamber music for obbligato harpsichord, e.g., Bach sonatas for violin and harpsichord. Third-year recital.
4. End of Fourth Year. J.S. Bach: Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue; Forqueray: Suite; Byrd: Walsingham Variations; Frescobaldi: Cento Partite; C.P.E. Bach: Prussian Sonata; chamber music from the 17th and 18th centuries for both continuo and obbligato harpsichord, e.g., Rameau: Piéces de Clavecin en Concert. Fourth-year recital.

Performance examinations also include sight-reading for solo repertoire and/or continuo realization.