Nicholas Good, harpsichord

Photos of the Recording Sessions
Sept. 27 - 29, 2004
St. Bridget's Church
Morse, Iowa

When I contacted Peter Nothnagle, recording engineer, about the Buxtehude project, he immediately brought up the topic of recording venues and suggested we consider this deconsecrated Catholic church, near Morse, Iowa. Located on a gravel road amonst the cornfields, over a mile from the nearest highway and 13 miles away from the nearest city (Iowa City), it's secluded location gave us an excellent site free from noises of semi-trucks, airplanes, railroads, and any kind of traffic noises.

The church was built in 1894 by immigrant farmers and still retains most of the statuary and ecclesiastical furnishings despite having closed about six years ago. The plaster over brick walls, and generous but not too large room provided naturally warm and spacious feel to the sound of the instrument. The sacristy, to the left of the altar, became the engineers recording room.

Kevin Fryer, who did the tuning for the sessions and was always keeping a close ear for any string that might have slipped out of tune. The harpsichord was retuned two or three times a day, and touched up as needed.. The harpsichord was tuned in quarter-comma meantone for this program, at A = 415.

Peter Nothnagle (engineer and editor) and Kevin Fryer, harpsichord builder, and tuner and techician for the recording. In back of this picture is Peter Nothnagle, the engineer. Peter has made over 300 commercially released classical recordings. Listening with him is the builder of the harpsichord, Kevin Fryer.