A visit to a harpsichord builder's workshop.

[NOTE:  For those of you who do not share my fascination with ancient instruments and may not be familiar with it, this is a harpsichord. I will provide a few links to YouTube videos at the bottom to help familiarize the curious with the sound of a harpsichord and with a limited selection of harpsichord repertoire.]

I have to admit to a bit of trepidation when I showed up at the door of Gerald Self's house/workshop.  Granted, the man had been very congenial when we exchanged e-mails about the possibility of a visit to his shop, sending me documents informing me of the do-it-yourself kits he sold and the models he built himself, assuring me that he would not try to sell me anything, and insisting that there would be no charge for the visit.  However, I was pretty certain he wasn't expecting a long-haired twenty-something year old to show up in jeans and a T-shirt. (My only excuse for being so under-dressed is that I have a large number of severe chemical sensitivities that make it extremely difficult to find dress clothes.)  I found myself arriving a bit early, too, which made me concerned about the possibility of throwing his schedule out of balance.  Fortunately, the personality that was revealed through e-mail very quickly asserted itself once he recognized me.