On Wednesday, August 12, the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance accepted the donation of an Eric Herz, single-manual German harpsichord from Drs. Feifei and Peter Jiang, in memory of Drs. Douglas J. & Marged L. Amend of Emporia, KS.
“As we celebrate 50 years of Early Music at K-State, I can’t imagine a more fitting gift,” said Bryan Pinkall, director of the school. “We are incredibly grateful for this beautiful instrument and the opportunities it will create for our students and faculty.”
The builder Eric Herz (1919-2002) was a German-born harpsichord builder who apprenticed with two of the 20th century’s most respected builders, Frank Hubbard and William Dowd. His designs, known for their superior craftsmanship, are rooted in the Northern European harpsichord tradition.
“We’re thrilled to welcome this Herz harpsichord to Kansas State University, and I’m so thankful to Drs. Feifei and Peter Jiang,” said David Simmons Wood, director of the school’s early-music activities. “It is a wonderful additional to our period instrument collection, which also includes a Dunphee French double-manual harpsichord and a Walker chamber organ, among many other instruments. Historical keyboards like this are crucial for supporting students and faculty in their study and performance of music of the 18th century and before. This is a game changer for our program.”
