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The Story Behind the Project
This collection came into our hands through an unlikely set of circumstances. Gene found a photocopied reproduction of Volume One during an historical reenactment at Fort Ticonderoga, N.Y., where Steve Pano, a merchant, had two copies for sale. The unlikely story he told was that the originals had been rescued from the trash. Gene, a hammer dulcimore player, showed the book to his cellist friend, Sona, and after trying out a few of the pieces, they became curious about the other volumes. After a few years of research, the owner of the originals was uncovered and the story of their discovery came to light.
Pete Plunket, proprietor of Middlesex Village Trading Co., specializing in reproduction firearms of the 18th century, found boxes of books left by the roadside in Massachusetts to be taken to the recycling station. Picking them up with the plan to examine them at a later time to see if there was anything worth saving, he took them home. A few months later when he looked through the boxes he discovered a number of original 17th and 18th century books in good to excellent condition, including an early (1650) treatise on artillery, medical books from the 19th century, and the three volumes of “Clio and Euterpe or British Harmony”. Although not a musician himself, he saw the value in these volumes and upon consulting with R.P. Hale, harpsichordist and music historian, found these were virtually unknown works from the middle of the 18th century. It was then he decided to have Volume One photocopied and bound for sale.
When we contacted Plunket about other volumes for sale, he said he reproduced only Volume One, and we would be welcome to copy the remainder. Sona immediately saw the value in digitally archiving both the art and the music and making it available via the internet, and with Pete's very enthusiastic approval, this project was born. The Fort at #4 Historic Site in Charlestown, N.H., generously offered the use of their facilities for the archiving. On June 4th, 2005, we began a marathon session to scan the entire set in a weekend while the Fort's annual Revolutionary War reenactment was in progress. The Fort generously gave us use of office space, and even supplied us with food and bottled water while these two 18th-century clad people anachronistically sat behind scanners and laptops for 36 hours straight, occasionally stopping to answer the questions of puzzled visitors who wandered in.
We wish to thank Cheryl Cavanaugh, Director of Fort #4, and her staff; Dave Bearor, of the Fort, who set up our respective tents, (although sleep was not on the schedule); Steve Pano, who had the foresight to carry the books; and especially Pete Plunket, without whom this project would not have been possible. As we assembled in Pete's tent at Fort #4, he refered to this project as a "group mitzvah", or a good deed -- and we think that describes it perfectly.
©2009 Sona Hairabedian, Gene Tozzi "Clio & Euterpe or British Harmony Online"
All Rights Reserved.
Pete Plunket, proprietor of Middlesex Village Trading Co., specializing in reproduction firearms of the 18th century, found boxes of books left by the roadside in Massachusetts to be taken to the recycling station. Picking them up with the plan to examine them at a later time to see if there was anything worth saving, he took them home. A few months later when he looked through the boxes he discovered a number of original 17th and 18th century books in good to excellent condition, including an early (1650) treatise on artillery, medical books from the 19th century, and the three volumes of “Clio and Euterpe or British Harmony”. Although not a musician himself, he saw the value in these volumes and upon consulting with R.P. Hale, harpsichordist and music historian, found these were virtually unknown works from the middle of the 18th century. It was then he decided to have Volume One photocopied and bound for sale.
When we contacted Plunket about other volumes for sale, he said he reproduced only Volume One, and we would be welcome to copy the remainder. Sona immediately saw the value in digitally archiving both the art and the music and making it available via the internet, and with Pete's very enthusiastic approval, this project was born. The Fort at #4 Historic Site in Charlestown, N.H., generously offered the use of their facilities for the archiving. On June 4th, 2005, we began a marathon session to scan the entire set in a weekend while the Fort's annual Revolutionary War reenactment was in progress. The Fort generously gave us use of office space, and even supplied us with food and bottled water while these two 18th-century clad people anachronistically sat behind scanners and laptops for 36 hours straight, occasionally stopping to answer the questions of puzzled visitors who wandered in.
We wish to thank Cheryl Cavanaugh, Director of Fort #4, and her staff; Dave Bearor, of the Fort, who set up our respective tents, (although sleep was not on the schedule); Steve Pano, who had the foresight to carry the books; and especially Pete Plunket, without whom this project would not have been possible. As we assembled in Pete's tent at Fort #4, he refered to this project as a "group mitzvah", or a good deed -- and we think that describes it perfectly.
©2009 Sona Hairabedian, Gene Tozzi "Clio & Euterpe or British Harmony Online"
All Rights Reserved.