harpsichords
Baroque keyboard instruments
Harpsichords are keyboard instruments that preceded the piano, producing sound when keys trigger small plectrums that pluck the strings rather than striking them with hammers.
The resulting tone is bright and somewhat metallic, without the dynamic range of a piano—pressing harder doesn't make it louder.
Harpsichords were central to Baroque music and experienced a revival in the twentieth century for historically informed performances of that repertoire.
Unsullied or inexperienced
- spinetSmall plucked keyboard
- keyboardArray of input keys
- stringsThin flexible lines
- pluckedPulled out forcefully
manual · keys · jacks · soundboard · registers · stops · coupler · pedal
German composer surname
- HandelBaroque composer of oratorios
- CouperinFrench Baroque keyboard composer
- continuoBaroque harmonic foundation
- ornamentationDecorative additions to something
Scarlatti · trills · chamber music · counterpoint · suite · partita · toccata · prelude
Pulled out forcefully
- twangSharp vibrating sound
- brightEmitting or reflecting light
- crystallineClear, ordered, brilliant
- metallicResembling ore-based elements
shimmer · articulate · decay · resonance · attack · sustain · silvery · delicate
Tone-amplifying wooden surface
- caseContainer or instance
- lidRemovable container cover
- standUpright support structure
- legsLocomotion appendages below torso
nut · nameboard · cheekpiece · spine · gilding · Italian · French · German
English-origin family name
- early musicPre-1750 Western compositions
- authenticityQuality of being genuine
- reconstructionRebuilding after destruction
- replicaFaithful scaled reproduction
virginal
Unsullied or inexperienced
plucked · manual · keys · jacks · soundboard · registers · stops · coupler · pedal · tuning
Bach
German composer surname
- HandelBaroque composer of oratorios
- CouperinFrench Baroque keyboard composer
- continuoBaroque harmonic foundation
Scarlatti · ornamentation · trills · chamber music · counterpoint · suite · partita · toccata · prelude · fugue
plucked
Pulled out forcefully
- twangSharp vibrating sound
- brightEmitting or reflecting light
- crystallineClear, ordered, brilliant
metallic · shimmer · articulate · decay · resonance · attack · sustain · silvery · delicate · tinkling
soundboard
Tone-amplifying wooden surface
legs · nut · nameboard · cheekpiece · spine · gilding · Italian · French · German · decoration
Hubbard
English-origin family name
- early musicPre-1750 Western compositions
- authenticityQuality of being genuine
- reconstructionRebuilding after destruction
harpsichordspianos
Large stringed keyboard instruments
grand pianos · upright pianos · fortepianos · digital pianos · electric pianos
harpsichordspipe organs
Wind instruments with ranks
percussion instruments · drums · wind instruments · brass instruments · woodwinds