Yes it's a terrible shame. I went twice in the last few years and they put on wonderful demonstrations and were very happy for people to try the instruments. I really hoped that this sort of thing would be saved for the nation and was very sad to see the contents up for auction.

Excuse me, I just saw the video and already noticed your comment. Was this entire collection split or bought complete by some institution? What a sad thing.

In fact Finchcocks does still exist the Nichols family bought it and they still continue its musical heritage. But on modern instruments, you can now stay there and enjoy a musical course at the same time. However, 14 of the core historical instruments have been retained and are now situated in nearby Tunbridge Wells were they also continue to provide both concerts and tuition. If music be the food of love, play on!

@@gadrian58 When I saw the above comment I was so worried for a second that all of the artifacts and items were lost and dispersed separately or something like that. I'm so happy they're still together and somewhere people can appreciate them! Thank you for your comment :)

It's the Symphony No. 1

and just a transcription of it. They were many during the nineteenth century before record invention, amateurs were used to play piano duets and especially transcription of symphonic works.

Assembling an orchestra is expensive! Often, a composer would publish a four-hand keyboard edition of a symphony, and if enough people played it and heard it, there might be enough demand to publish the orchestral version and get an orchestra together to play it!

That's Schubert - Fantasia in F minor

Thank you very much indeed. I am listening to Murray Perahia, and Radu Lupu's 1984 recording as I type this now. A happier and wiser man, thanks to you... Best regards from the Isle of skye.

It's the finale of the "Waldstein" sonata (C Major op 53)

Schubert fantasy for 4 hands in f minor.

arrangement of Beethoven's first symphony

Rod Corkin thanks so much!

Of course they do! At least two of them

We do here in Western Australia on Stein and Walter pianos!

It's the duo at the start of the video to whom I refer

Since 1800?? Indeed the copyright didn't drop at all. No way that after 50 years it did.