David Jacques Way (1918 - February 1994) was an American harpsichord, clavichord and fortepiano maker. He began his career as a fine-arts printer and later became a musicologist. He was the publisher of Wolfgang Zuckermann's book The Modern Harpsichord, and had built one of his kits. He bought Zuckermann Harpsichords in 1969 and transferred it from New York to Stonington, Connecticut, producing new designs which are still sold by the company today as finished custom built instruments.

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  • David Jacques Way (1918 - February 1994) was an American harpsichord, clavichord and fortepiano maker. He began his career as a fine-arts printer and later became a musicologist. He was the publisher of Wolfgang Zuckermann's book The Modern Harpsichord, and had built one of his kits. He bought Zuckermann Harpsichords in 1969 and transferred it from New York to Stonington, Connecticut, producing new designs which are still sold by the company today as finished custom built instruments. Some models are available as kits for builders. He did not try to make exact copies of old instruments but rather learn from historical makers: “ We have not made any 'exact copies' of particular old instruments--that seems to us to be a blind alley that leads to 'fake antiques', worthless imitations. [... ] We cannot find that any of the old masters ever copied anyone, not even themselves. They did, however, learn from one another, and take everything of value they could make their own--and by making it their own they paid all debts. [... ] We would rather copy the very central idea of all honest builders, ancient and modern: Using the materials available and all the knowledge and sensitivity and research and awareness we can muster, make musical instruments for the sound and action of which we take complete responsibility. ” As a master instrument-maker, he was always perfecting his craft and focused on the sound of his instruments: His instruments are played by Trevor Pinnock (who has said of his instrument "it is modelled somewhat after Hemsch, but the sound is completely David Way") and many other leading harpsichordists. Harpsichord makers who he taught include Richard Auber, of Zuckermann Harpsichords International]], Carey Beebe and Marc Ducornet. His harpsichords are signed D. Jacques Way · Stonington · Connecticut or simply Zuckermann He died of a heart attack, according to his wife, Katherine.
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  • David Jacques Way (1918 - February 1994) was an American harpsichord, clavichord and fortepiano maker. He began his career as a fine-arts printer and later became a musicologist. He was the publisher of Wolfgang Zuckermann's book The Modern Harpsichord, and had built one of his kits. He bought Zuckermann Harpsichords in 1969 and transferred it from New York to Stonington, Connecticut, producing new designs which are still sold by the company today as finished custom built instruments.
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  • David Jacques Way
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