How does a harpsichord make sound?
The sound of the wing-shaped harpsichord and its smaller rectangular, triangular, or polygonal relatives, the spinet and virginal, is produced by plucking their strings. When the harpsichordist pushes down on a key, the back end rises, lifting the jack and forcing the plectrum past the string, plucking it.
What are the strings on a harpsichord made of?
Historically, plectra were made of bird quill or leather; many modern harpsichords have plastic (delrin or celcon) plectra. When the front of the key is pressed, the back of the key rises, the jack is lifted, and the plectrum plucks the string.
Is the harpsichord touch sensitive?
Due to its primitive and weak plucking action, the harpsichord did not have a touch-sensitive keyboard; the player had practically no control over the volume of individual notes.
How much does it cost to buy a harpsichord?
How much do our instruments cost? Many of our harpsichords can be built for between $14,000 and $18,000, clavichords from $3,000. However, instruments can cost more depending on features and finish.
Is a harpsichord louder than a clavichord?
The piano is therefore closer to a clavichord than a harpsichord. On a piano it is possible to play louder or quieter by playing the keys with more or less force. On a harpsichord the volume (playing louder or softer) cannot be controlled by the way it is played.
What do you call someone who plays the harpsichord?
A harpsichordist is a person who plays the harpsichord.
What era is harpsichord used?
The harpsichord was an important keyboard instrument in Europe from the 15th through the 18th centuries, and as revived in the 20th, is widely played today.
How big is a harpsichord?
The Venetian instrument had either a single 8-ft-long (2.4-m-long) choir or two choirs measuring 8 ft (2.5 m) in length (the length of the choir plus the depth of the keys was the approximate total length of the harpsichord).
How many octaves does a harpsichord have?
By the middle of the 18th century the harpsichord had grown to a normal compass of five full octaves, three or more sets of strings and jacks, and often two keyboards.
Is playing the harpsichord like playing the piano?
There is less touch on the Harpsichord than the Piano because the Harpsichord itself has a smaller dynamic range than the Piano does. Overall, though, the form you need for it is pretty similar – trying to have a 90-degree angle with your arms to the keyboard, good fingering, and so on.
Can you play the harpsichord if you play piano?
Anything that you can play on a piano you’ll be able to play on the harpsichord sans the dynamics, of course. So the Bach fugues that you play on the piano will translate well to the harpsichord.
Is a harpsichord louder than a piano?
While playing the piano, you have full control over the volume of sound produced, meaning you can either play soft or loud depending on the way the key is pressed. A harpsichord player does not have such control. No matter how hard or soft you press, the sound will always have the same volume.
Is harpsichord harder to play than piano?
It’s not difficult to play harpsichord physically (though it does take different physical awareness and technique), but it is a completely different instrument that uses a musical “language” that is very different from the way we are accustomed to play on a modern piano.