Grove's dictionary of music and musicians

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446 SHUDI SI
that Plenina about 1750, and also in London, by
a pedal movement, gradually raised and lowered
a portion of the top or cover. This coming
into general use, Shudi improved upon it by
his important invention of the 'Venetian Swell
on the principle of a Venetian blind, which he
patented Deo. 18, 1769. He probably delayed
taking out the patent until it became necessary
by his partnership with John Broadwood, who
had also become his son-iu law,^ earlier in the
same year. This invention was subsequently
transferred to the organ. [See vol. ii. p. 331, and
the article Systell.]
A harpsichord exists inscribed with the joint
names of Shudi and Broadwood, dated 1770,
although Shudi made harpsichords for himself
after that date and independent of the partnership,
as we know by existing instruments and
by his will. About 1772 he retired to a house
in Charlotte Street, leaving the business premises
to his son-in-law, John Broadwood, and died
August 19, 1773. The next day a harpsichord
was shipped to ' the Empress,' ordered by Joseph
II. for Maria Theresa. The harpsichord that
was Haydn's, acquired for the Museum at Vienna,
at a cost of £110 sterling, was also a Shudi
'
and Broadwood,' but this was the younger
Burkat Shudi, who was in partnership with
John Broadwood from 1773 to about 1782, and
died in 1803.
A list of the existing harpsichords by Shudi
and Shudi & Broadwood, as far as is known
(1907),^ is here appended : all but one are
Double harpsichords. The price of a Single
harpsichord, about 1770, was 35 guineas ; with
Ootava (i.e. Octave string), 40 guineas ; with
Octava and Swell, 50 guineas. A Double
harpsichord with Swell, was 80 guineas. ^
Jfo.
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