Made in Connecticut: Zuckermann Harpsichords
Zuckermann Harpsichords are handmade right here in Connecticut.
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For more than 50 years, Zuckermann Harpsichords International has been crafting these specialized instruments in Stonington, Connecticut.
The story began in the early 1950s, when Wolfgang Zuckermann opened a small harpsichord shop. Two decades later, David Way purchased the company and relocated the workshop to Stonington. After Way's death in 1994, Richard Auber took the reins and has continued the centuries-old craft ever since. "The importance of my work has been to carry forward the legacy of all the people who came before me into the 21st century," Auber says. And it's a rare profession. "We're probably the only shop of this size still in operation," he adds.
Every Zuckermann harpsichord is built by hand. The process begins with designing and constructing the case, turning the legs, and building the base. Craftsmen then carve and balance each key by hand before strings are added and the instrument is painstakingly tuned. The final step is finishing and decoration, ensuring every harpsichord is truly one of a kind.
"I love history. I love playing music," says Zhengyi Adam Hou, the workshop's resident harpsichordist, who also helps build the instruments. "The harpsichord is such an interesting instrument. Whenever you're playing Baroque music, you have to go back to the harpsichord because that's the instrument the music was originally written for."
Zuckermann also offers build-your-own harpsichord kits, an idea inspired by founder Wolfgang Zuckermann that continues to introduce new generations to the instrument.
Despite its niche market, the company serves customers around the globe. Auber says musicians, schools, and organizations worldwide rely on the workshop's expertise."We really are a worldwide operation," he explains. "We ship everywhere. It's not a huge market, but we're not a huge shop. When the whole world is your market, it only takes a handful of customers from every country to keep us busy year-round."
