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An Evening at Home: Music on the Octave VirginalExperience the delicate, sparkling sound of the National Music Museum’s rare 1694 Guarracino octave virginal as harpsichordist Faythe Vollrath transports audiences to the intimate musical salons of 17th-century Italy. Featuring the NMM’s Guarracino virginal (NMM06041) and Ridolfi harpsichord (NMM04657).
Immerse yourself in the sounds of 17th-century Italy with An Evening at Home: Music on the Octave Virginal, performed by acclaimed harpsichordist Faythe Vollrath. This special program offers the rare chance to hear the NMM’s 1694 Guarracino octave virginal, a small keyboard instrument once favored for practice, song accompaniment, and private entertainment in the Italian home. Its delicate voice—sounding an octave higher than a standard keyboard—brings a light, crystalline quality to Baroque repertoire that is seldom experienced in modern concerts.
An Evening at Home promises an evocative journey into the elegance, intimacy, and charm of music as it might have been heard in an Italian home over 300 years ago.
This program is funded by the Clayton & Odessa Lang Ofstad Foundation, Bank of America N. A., Co-Trustee.
NMM Live! is made possible by the USD Student Government Association and the South Dakota Arts Council through the Department of Tourism, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
A live stream of this concert will be available to watch for free on our website. Please visit the NMM Live Video page to tune in if you cannot join us in person!
About the instruments featured in this program:
Octave Virginal by Onofrio Guarracino (1694) – Naples, Italy
Built by Naples’ most notable 17th-century harpsichord maker, this octave virginal exemplifies the Neapolitan school’s distinctive style with its rectangular maple case, dovetailed corners, and finely crafted parchment rose. Tuned an octave above normal pitch, it produces a light, sparkling tone once favored for practice, song accompaniment, and private music-making in the home. (NMM06041)
Harpsichord attributed to Giacomo Ridolfi (ca. 1660–1690) – Rome, Italy
This Roman harpsichord features a single manual with two sets of 8' strings, housed in an original outer case with delicate moldings and fine boxwood and cypress keys accented by ivory studs. Though later converted to a piano in the 18th century, it retains much of its original craftsmanship and elegance, offering insight into the refined artistry of Italian keyboard building in the late Baroque. (NMM04657)
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
414 E Clark St (Corner: Clark/Yale), Vermillion, SD, United States, South Dakota 57069
