The Keyboard Instruments of Alan Cuckston

The Keyboard Instruments of Alan Cuckston THE PRIVATE PERIOD COLLECTION OF A MASTER MUSICIAN

BROWSE & BID ONLINE

The Keyboard Instruments of Alan Cuckston THE PRIVATE PERIOD COLLECTION OF A MASTER MUSICIAN

ENDS THURSDAY 11 SEPTEMBER | FROM 11AM DUGGLEBY STEPHENSON OF YORK, MURTON, YORK, YO19 5GF VIEWING BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Monday 8 September | 9am - 4:30pm Tuesday 9 September | 9am - 4:30pm Wednesday 10 September | 9am - 4:30pm Other dates can be made available for viewing via special arrangement.

Please contact the team on 01904 393 300 to book an appointment.

Bid anytime online through our website, and join the live auction to bid in real-time as each item is sold, using our bespoke bidding platform, DS Live.

Buyers premium 25.0% +VAT (30.0% inc VAT) For buyers information please refer to our Terms of Sale at dugglebystephenson.com or ask a member of the team.

Alan Cuckston 1940 - 2025

Alan George Cuckston (2 July 1940 – 22 March 2025) was an English harpsichordist, pianist, organist, conductor and lecturer, whose artistry and scholarship profoundly influenced the early music movement. Born in Horsforth, near Leeds, he began his musical studies under Fanny Waterman and Lamar Crowson, later honing his craft at King’s College, Cambridge under the guidance of musicologist Thurston Dart.

“I think the charm of the harpsichord lies in its imperfections… each instrument is an individual voice with its own character, its own temper, its own colours.”

Shortly after graduating, Cuckston became a keyboard soloist with the BBC and joined the Music Department at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts in Birmingham (1965–1969). In 1965 he made a notable debut at London’s Wigmore Hall with the Lydian Ensemble, and in 1968 performed as harpsichordist in Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Vergine at the BBC Proms under Sir John Eliot Gardiner.

Cuckston established an international reputation, touring Europe and North America with leading ensembles such as the Academy of St Martin‑in‑the‑Fields and Pro Cantione Antiqua.

His performances were distinguished by elegance, clarity and historical insight – qualities that made him a central figure in the revival of period-instrument performance.

As a prolific recording artist, Cuckston’s repertoire spanned medieval dance music, Baroque masterpieces, and 20th-century British compositions. His interpretations of the Dublin Virginal Manuscript were praised by Gramophone for their “alert, clean, rhythmically controlled” performances. He recorded works by Handel, Locke, Purcell, Couperin, Rameau, Howells, Gibbs, and Rawsthorne amongst others, and also championed both established and contemporary composers, commissioning new works from composers including Elizabeth Maconchy and Ronald Stevenson.

Cuckston’s relationship with historic instruments was not merely academic or professional – it was deeply personal and intuitive. He once remarked, “I think the charm of the harpsichord lies in its imperfections… each instrument is an individual voice with its own character, its own temper, its own colours.” He was a musician attuned to the individuality of each instrument, and committed to drawing out its authentic voice with care and understanding.

Beyond performance and recording, Cuckston was a passionate collector of early keyboard instruments – harpsichords, fortepianos, chamber organs – many of which enriched his authentic performances and recordings. Among his instruments was a 1742 Johannes Schnetzler chamber organ, believed to be the oldest of its kind in Britain and possibly once owned by Handel.

Even into his eighties, Alan Cuckston remained active in teaching and performing, operating from Selby in North Yorkshire. He passed away peacefully on 22 March 2025 at the age of 84. Tributes from the Telegraph, British Music Society, and British Harpsichord Society remembered him as a distinguished artist and scholar whose performances and recordings opened new horizons for early music enthusiasts.

His legacy endures in the recordings he left behind, the instruments he carefully curated, and the generations of musicians he inspired – keeping the spirit of early keyboard music vibrantly alive.

The Keyboard Instruments of Alan Cuckston We are proud to present an exclusive oneoff auction of exceptional period keyboard instruments from the private collection of the late Alan Cuckston – a musician of international renown, celebrated for his performances, recordings and expertise in early music.

Carefully selected and played by Cuckston himself, the collection includes harpsichords, fortepianos, and chamber organs of remarkable historical and musical significance. With several instruments of considerable rarity – including what is believed to be the oldest surviving Schnetzler chamber organ in Britain – this is an unmissable event for collectors, institutions and musicians alike.

Information for Bidders Auction & Bidding This auction is scheduled to end from 11am at on Thursday 11 September 2025. The live auction will take place at Duggleby Stephenson of York, Murton, York, YO19 5GF. Bidding is available in person, by telephone, online via our website, or through the-saleroom.com (please note: additional commission applies for the-saleroom. com buyers). We recommend all bidders register in advance of the sale to ensure they are eligible to participate.

Online bidding is already open. You can place your bids at dugglebystephenson. com, or by scanning the QR code on the next page. Our website uses intelligent bidding, allowing you to enter a maximum bid in advance – our system will then bid automatically on your behalf as the auction progresses. You can also join the live auction online from 11am on 11 September, via the catalogue web page by clicking ‘Join Live Auction’.

If you wish to bid by telephone, please contact our team at least 24 hours before the live auction. You can reach us on +44 (0) 1723 507 111 or by email at mail@ dugglebys.com, and we will be pleased to facilitate this service.

We understand many bidders cannot attend the viewings or auction in person.

Detailed condition reports and high-resolution images are available to support remote participation. To request a condition report, simply use the ‘Ask a Question’ button on the lot detail page of our website.

Specialist Handling & Delivery Our in-house logistics team has extensive experience handling delicate and historically important instruments and regularly ship specialist instruments throughout the UK and internationally, and provide bespoke crating, secure storage, and climate-controlled shipping.

Instruments of particular complexity, such as the Schnetzler and Elliot chamber organs, will require professional dismantling and reassembly. We are in direct contact with a qualified organ builder who is available to undertake this service, subject to location and availability. This must be arranged post-sale, and pricing is available upon request.

Buyers are also welcome to instruct their own logistics providers; we will liaise with third-party shippers to facilitate safe collection and transport.

Legal Compliance & Export Notes Several of the instruments offered for sale contain ivory, which is regulated under the UK’s Ivory Act 2018 and the international CITES agreement. All relevant items are registered for sale in the UK where applicable.

International buyers may require additional permits and documentation for export outside of the UK. We encourage buyers to consult on legal requirements for their country of residence at their earliest convenience. We can provide guidance and assist with relevant documentation.

Purchase, Payment & Collection A Buyer’s Premium of 25% +VAT (30% inclusive) will be added to the hammer price of each lot purchased.

We accept the following methods of payment: • Bank transfer • Debit card (in person or over the phone) • Credit card (subject to verification; some restrictions apply) • Cash (subject to legal limits) Full payment must be received within five working days of the sale. Please refer to our Terms of Sale for detailed payment conditions and late payment provisions.

All purchased lots must be collected or scheduled for delivery within 10 working days of the auction unless otherwise arranged. Storage fees may apply thereafter.

Please contact us promptly after the sale to confirm your logistics requirements.

Buyers are responsible for any taxes, duties, and shipping costs. Once payment clears, you may choose delivery via our specialist team or your own logistics provider.

Comprehensive details are available under the Terms & Conditions section of our website. Please visit dugglebystephenson.com for further information.

Our expert team is dedicated to supporting buyers at every stage – from bidding and legal compliance to transport and installation – ensuring a secure, informed and seamless acquisition experience.

BROWSE & BID ONLINE

5000 20 Century “French Style” Two Manual Harpsichord

by John Rooks of Tincknall (1971) th

£2,000 - 3,000

5001 20th Century “Flemish Style” Two Manual Harpsichord

by John Rooks of Ticknall (1981) after Jan Ruckers 1637 £2,000 - 3,000

5002 Early 19 Century George IV Square Piano

by William Rolfe & Co, 112 Cheapside, London, Circa 1821 th

£400 - 500

5003 William IV Cabinet Upright Piano Unknown Maker, Circa 1830 £400 - 500

5004 Early 19 Century Grand Piano

by John Broadwood & Son, London 1828 th

£1,000 - 1,500

5005 Early 19th Century Grand Piano

by John Broadwood & Son, London 1820. Serial No 7695 £8,000 - 10,000

5006 Austrian “Viennese” Grand Piano

by Joseph Böhm Circa 1820 £8,000 - 12,000

Crafted in Vienna around 1820, this Austrian “Viennese” grand piano by Joseph Böhm exemplifies the elegant craftsmanship of the early 19th-century Viennese school. Böhm established his workshop in 1813 and was active through the 1830s, producing instruments celebrated alongside those of Graf and Érard.

With a straight triple-strung soundboard, traditional Viennese action featuring an adjustable escapement, and leather-covered hammers with new dampers, the piano offers a richly expressive touch. It spans six octaves (C1-F7) with original ivory naturals and ebony sharps, and its seven-pedal lyre provides effects such as Bells & Drum, Bassoon Stop, Una Corda, and both full and treble sustain. The elegant ebonised nameboard is adorned with gilt mounts depicting imperial eagles, grapevines, scrollwork and angelic trumpeters.

This is one of the earliest known Böhm pianos – rediscovered in Milan in the 1870s and bearing an original trade label on the soundboard – foreshadowing the tonal character of instruments familiar to Beethoven in his later years.

5007 Late 18th century Chamber Organ

by Thomas Elliot of London 1790 £3,000 - 5,000

5008 Mid-18th Century Chamber Organ

by Johannes Schnetzler (John Snetzler) 1742 £15,000 - 20,000

Built in London by the esteemed Swiss-born organ builder Johannes Schnetzler in 1742, this finely preserved chamber organ is considered one of Great Britain’s most important early keyboard instruments. With a single manual spanning five octaves (G¹–F⁶), it features six speaking stops – Open Diapason, Stopped Diapason, Twelfth, Fifteenth, Cornet, and Flute – alongside ebonised wood naturals and ivory-faced sharps, powered by a crank- and foot-operated wind reservoir.

Trained in Passau, Schnetzler (1710–1785) arrived in London in 1741 and soon became one of the leading organ builders of the 18th century, known for both church and chamber instruments. The carved case of this example, later modified with gothic arches and silk panels, houses complete pipework; the organ remains playable, though the action would benefit from adjustment.

Thought to be the oldest surviving Schnetzler chamber organ in Britain, it is even believed by some to have belonged to Handel, who lived in London during Schnetzler’s working life. Full historical and technical details are available in The Harley Foundation’s Report No. 29 (2005) by Edward Bennett and Martin Goetze, accessible via our website.

This exceptional instrument reflects both the artistry of Schnetzler and the legacy of 18th-century English organ craftsmanship.

BROWSE & BID ONLINE

Alan Cuckston 1940 - 2025

David Duggleby Auctioneers & Valuers

Duggleby Stephenson of York

Vine Street, Scarborough YO11 1XN 01723 507111 auctions@davidduggleby.com

York Auction Centre, Murton, York YO19 5GF 01904 393300 info@dugglebystephenson.com

Harrogate Valuations Office

Beverley Valuations Office

5 Raglan Street, Harrogate, HG1 1LE 01423 229311 harrogate@davidduggleby.com

14 Wednesday Market, Beverley, HU17 0DH 01482 453708 beverley@davidduggleby.com

www.dugglebystephenson.com | www.davidduggleby.com