Cawton Aston (active 1693 – 1733) was an English builder of

spinet A spinet is a smaller type of harpsichord or other keyboard instrument, such as a piano or organ. Harpsichords When the term ''spinet'' is used to designate a harpsichord, typically what is meant is the ''bentside spinet'', described in this ...

s. He was the seventh and last

apprentice Apprenticeship is a system for training a new generation of practitioners of a trade or profession with on-the-job training and often some accompanying study (classroom work and reading). Apprenticeships can also enable practitioners to gain a ...

of instrument builder John Player (1636 - 1707), and the only one to set up his own business. In 1730 he was living at the Prince’s Arms in New Queen Street in London. Two spinets signed by Aston are currently known; the first is dated 1726 and has the range GG-g΄΄΄ (five octaves). The case is decorated with inlay. The natural keys are covered in bone, and the sharps are made of a “sandwich” of ivory and ebony, sometimes referred to as “skunktail sharps” because of their appearance. The instrument was restored by Arnold Dolmetsch in 1898;

Colonial Williamsburg Colonial Williamsburg is a living-history museum and private foundation presenting a part of the historic district in the city of Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation has 7300 employees at this location and ...

purchased it in 1960. The second instrument was built in 1733 and also has the range GG-g΄΄΄. The keyboard has ivory-covered naturals and skunktail sharps, just as on the 1726 spinet. Many parts, such as the bridge, nut, and stand are replacements; the soundboard rose is probably not original. The instrument has been in a private collection in England for approximately thirty years. A spinet built c.1700 whose lowest key is marked “C.A.” has been attributed to Aston; this instrument is currently part of the Richard Burnett Heritage Collection. It has the range GG/BB-d΄΄΄ (4½ octaves), with a broken octave. This compass is very common in spinets made between 1690 and 1710. The natural keys are covered with ebony, while the sharps are solid ivory. Overall the instrument is similar to those made by John Player. Peter Mole states that

Judging by the stylishness of the spinet by Cawton Aston dated 1726 at Colonial Williamsburg, Cawton Aston seems to have been a craftsman of great skill, and a firm constituted by him and by
homas In the Vedic Hinduism, a homa (Sanskrit: होम) also known as havan, is a fire ritual performed on special occasions by a Hindu priest usually for a homeowner (" grihastha": one possessing a home). The grihasth keeps different kinds of fire ...
Barton would have been a significant competitor to the tephenKeene firm in the period 1709 to 1712.

Boalch mentions a spinet signed by Cawton Aston and Thomas Barton, dated 1709, that once belonged to Edwin M. Ripin. Boalch believed it to be in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; however, this instrument is not currently in that collection.Mole (2009), p.100

Discography

* ''Henry Purcell: The Suites for Harpsichord'', Archiv Produktion 2533415 (1979) (c.1700 spinet) * ''From Two to Six'', Finchcocks Press FPCD003 (2001) (c.1700 spinet)

Notes

References

* Boalch, D., ''Makers of the Harpsichord and Clavichord 1440-1840'', 3rd ed., Oxford University Press, 1995 * Mole, P., The English Spinet with Particular Reference to the Schools of Keene and Hitchcock (Doctoral dissertation, University of Edinburgh, 2009) Retrieved 9/10/10 from http://hdl.handle.net/1842/3274

External links

1726 spinet at Colonial Williamsburg

The Richard Burnett Heritage Collection
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aston, Cawton Harpsichord makers English musical instrument makers 18th-century English people Year of birth missing Year of death missing Musicians from London