To remedy the situation they have brought together both original harpsichords and modern copies by well-known builders, putting the entire collection at the service of the harpsichord community; Piccola Accademia’s internet site presents the instruments in a most attractive way.

And it was only natural that the organisation should expand its activities to include master classes given by top performers, an annual festival, a specialised library (which includes a programme to digitalise documents, making them easily accessible to all), and a recording studio providing the best technology available today. The founders of the Accademia sum up their ambitions in this way: “Piccola Accademia is committed to providing access to exceptional instruments, teaching and recording facilities to the musical community, as well more broadly raising the profile of quality historic performance and appreciation of the harpsichord through regular performances, festivals, community events and communications”.

This year’s festival will open on 7 July with Arte Musica’s evening of Italian vocal music, Gesualdo madrigals and 18th-century cantatas. They will be joined by Francesco Cera in a concert entitled “Frescobaldi e il Concerto delle Dame”. A noon recital the following day will be given by Bob van Asperen (works by Froberger, Purcell, Couperin and Bach; van Asperen will play his own transcription of the Bach’s D minor Partita for solo violin). Menno van Delft and Pieter Wispelway will join forces for an evening recital dedicated to Bach’s cello suites (the harpsichord’s role is not mentioned in the programme).

The noon recital on 9 July will feature harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani in a programme of Elisabethan virginals music, while the evening’s offering by the Camerata Serafin (conducted by Jonathan Cohen, with Matthew Truscott, violin) will include works by Vivaldi, Corelli and Locatelli. Gustav Leonhardt plays harpsichord works of Couperin, Purcell, Forqueray and Bach on the 10th at noon, with Marco Mencoboni conducting the Cantar Lontano ensemble in Monteverdi’s Missa in illo tempore that evening.

Full details on the organisation’s eye-catching website:  www.piccolaaccademia.org