What does the word clavichord mean?

English Language Learners Definition of clavichord : a musical instrument that is similar to a piano and was played mostly in the past before the piano was invented.

Why do some harpsichords have two keyboards?

Why do some harpsichords have two keyboards? In some designs, the second manual might control strings tuned a fourth (four notes) down from the main keyboard. This allows the harpsichordist to switch to a lower register when required, which frees up the higher registers for a vocal accompaniment.

Are harpsichords still made?

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.

What does harpsichord mean in music?

The harpsichord is a keyboard instrument in which the strings are plucked, rather than hit with a hammer (which is the mechanism for the piano, a more recent development). The plucked strings of the harpsichord have a rich sound whose clarity informs the complex contrapuntal melodies of baroque music.

What is the difference between harpsichord and clavichord?

The basic difference between the two was that the strings on the harpsichord were plucked, whereas with the clavichord they were struck. With the clavichord on the other hand, the string was struck. The strings were damped at one end. The key when pushed down, pushed its other end, brass covered, up against the string.

What is the meaning of FROK?

1 : an outer garment worn by monks and friars : habit. 2 : an outer garment worn chiefly by men: a : a long loose mantle. b : a workman’s outer shirt especially : smock frock. c : a woolen jersey worn especially by sailors.

How many octaves does a harpsichord have?

five
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.

How does a harpsichord pluck?

The plucking mechanism, called a jack, rests on the key and consists of a narrow slip of wood with two slots cut into its top. 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 instrument is similar to a harpsichord?

Oval spinet
Harpsichord/Related instrument

What’s another word for harpsichord?

In this page you can discover 17 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for harpsichord, like: cembalo, spinet, clavichord, fortepiano, viol, theorbo, sackbut, pianoforte, viola-da-gamba, oboe and bassoon.

Which is older harpsichord or clavichord?

The first keyboard instrument that used strings, the clavichord, came to be in the late Middle Ages, although nobody knows exactly when it was invented. The clavichord was also much smaller and simpler than its relative, the harpsichord.

What kind of musical instrument is a harpsichord?

A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard which activates a row of levers that in turn trigger a mechanism that plucks one or more strings with a small plectrum. The term denotes the whole family of similar plucked-keyboard instruments, including the smaller virginals, muselar, and spinet.

How are the jacks held in place on a harpsichord?

The jacks are held in place by the registers. These are two long strips of wood (the upper movable, the lower fixed), which run in the gap between pinblock and bellyrail. The registers have rectangular mortises (holes) through which the jacks pass as they can move up and down.

Is there a way to build a harpsichord?

And, if its building does not take time away from paying work, you can save money. First, contact Hubbard Harpsichordsand check out their kits. You can make an instrument as fine as has ever been made using one of Hubbard’s kits.

What makes a harpsichord sound like a plucked lute?

Some harpsichords may have a buff stop, which brings a strip of buff leather or other material in contact with the strings, muting their sound to simulate the sound of a plucked lute. The term denotes the whole family of similar plucked-keyboard instruments, including the smaller virginals, muselar, and spinet.

What does the word clavichord mean? English Language Learners Definition of clavichord : a musical instrument that is similar to a piano and was played mostly in the past before the piano was invented. Why do some harpsichords have two keyboards? Why do some harpsichords have two keyboards? In some designs, the second manual might…