The Daily Spectrum from Saint George, Utah • 71

4 For the week of March 27, 2009 The Spectrum ST. GEORGE NEIGHBORHOODS wrww.thespectrum.com A labor of love: Harpsichord to feature prominently at annual Bach festival I i i i i v. 'i For St George Neighborhoods ST. GEORGE In 2005, a tragic accident on Interstate 15 took the life of Janice Conley, an Ivins woman. Among her possessions was the makings of a Flemish Double Manual Harpsichord after the famous Ruckers design, a harpsichord builder of the 16th century.

The instrument is suitable for playing the music of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). The double harpsichord was Bach's instrument of preference upon which he could play any of his keyboard works. Conley had acquired the professional builders kit from the famous Zucker-mann Harpsichord Com- pany of Stonington, Vt, a few years prior to her death, but for reasons unknown she had not been able to proceed with the construction. The makings had been unpacked and the bundles were standing against her bedroom wall. Her brother, Jay Conlon, now of Las Vegas, Nev, had arrived to assist with settling her affairs.

He generously offered her household possessions to those in the neighborhood who had certain needs. In the process it was mentioned there was a woodcarver and builder of a harpsichord in the neighborhood. Years earlier, Maynard Sorensen had built a small modern harpsichord designed by the Zucker- mann Company for his wife, Nonie, a composer and pianist, and his family. After hearing how it became available, the thought of having such a rare object going to waste or to an uncertain destiny was more than Sorensen could bear. He agreed to take on the project after giving a donation to a worthy cause related to closing her estate.

In the early process he discovered some of the parts were missing, probably because of her untimely passing and in the distribution of Conley possessions. A list was assembled and the parts were reordered from the Zuckermann Company. Noted in the contents were such things as square, primitive nails and other old-fashioned parts. It was decided by the men who had taken the Zuckermann Company that they would redesign instruments after the ancient ones that had been so popular with the masters, right down to the nails they used. By doing so, they had improved on the quality and sound of the instruments.

That was an additional incentive to Sorensen to get the project going. It took three years for Sorenson to complete the project In the fall of 2008 he was able to hear the beautiful, resonate tones of the strings. The instrument has -three sets of strings making a total of 168 individual See FESTIVAL on page 9 Maynard Sorensen is seen in working on a harpsichord. Submitted this undated photograph FREE AUDIO CD "3 SECRETS TO BACK PAIN RELIEF" BY DR. CRAIG PETERSON CALL TO REOJJEST YOUR FREE GIFT ARE YOU IN THE MOW YOU CAN BE.

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