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The School of Music's new harpsichord looks more like a work of art than a musical instrument.

The intricately carved and decorated treasure was carefully unpacked after its journey from the US, under the watchful - and joyful - eye of UWA benefactor David Cooke.

Dr Cooke, a philanthropic surgeon, is a patron of the arts, and both a music and visual art lover, so his gift to the University perfectly reflects his passions.

Originally from England, Dr Cooke made his home in Fremantle 10 years ago and very soon after made a donation to the School of Music for the construction of a harpsichord.

After some false starts, the mission was finally accomplished last month, with the $60,000 instrument arriving from Minnesota and being installed in the Eileen Joyce studio, along with other early instruments.

The harpsichord is a forerunner of the piano and was widely used in the 17th and 18th centuries, until it gradually disappeared in favour of its more modern descendant. The School of Music has an original 18th century harpsichord, but this newest addition was recently created by Keith Hill, one of the best harpsichord builders in the world.

After falling from favour, the harpsichord has had somewhat of a revival in recent years for the authentic performance of baroque music, one of the hallmarks of the School of Music.

Winthrop Professor Paul Wright and the Office of Development's Bianca Galipo guided the donation and the acquisition.

Dr Cooke has commissioned a harpsichord concerto for UWA from Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe.

"But that will be a while coming," Dr Cooke said. "Peter Sculthorpe is 82 and had said he was not taking any more commissions, but that he would do this one as he had always wanted to write a harpsichord concerto."

The maker's brother, Robert Hill, described by Professor Wright as the finest harpsichord player in the world, will come to UWA on 24 September to launch his brother's beautiful creation.

Dr Cooke supports young musicians and local artists as well as his passion for baroque music. He often hosts musical events in the courtyard of his Fremantle property, Fothergill's. But he doesn't play a musical instrument himself.

"I play the gramophone," he joked, as he sat down at the newly-installed harpsichord and picked out the opening bars of Beethoven's popular piece, Fur Elise.

His love of baroque music extended to his purchase of a spinet (similar to a harpsichord) which is still in pieces in his home in Guildford, England.

"I spent many happy hours fitting black and white keys together and fiddling about. But it's still not complete. I'm not very handy with tools - it's lucky I'm not an orthopaedic surgeon!" he said.

Professor Wright said that one of the most important aesthetics of music in the 18th century and earlier, related to the concept of beauty and soul.

"Harpsichord builder Keith Hill has achieved this in the sound world of his instruments during his 35 year association with the craft," he said. "In his own words, ‘the cardinal signs of a Hill instrument are: powerful tone, gorgeously vocal trebles, solid and resonant basses, beauty of tone color, intensely musical behavior of sound, flexibility of touch and a singing and effectively loaded tone'.

"The School of Music is indeed fortunate to now own one of Keith's highly prized instruments thanks to the generosity and understanding of philanthropist David Cooke. "We already own a much sought after original English harpsichord by Kirkman from the 18th century and my prediction is that 250 years from now the Keith Hill will still be around (hopefully in a purpose-built UWA concert hall) in a similar place of honour."

Published in UWA News , 25 July 2011