What sound does the harpsichord make?

It’s an elegant, charming instrument. The strings are mechanically plucked and then muted, making the sound brittle, rattling and clipped, with no variation in dynamics, that makes the harpsichord sound more “formal” and precise than the more sonorous, romantic and ponderous piano.

What gives the harpsichord its distinctive sound?

tion that gives the harpsichord its sound: the human ear. One of the characteristics of a good harpsi chord is its strong bass.

What instrument sounds like a harpsichord?

The term denotes the whole family of similar plucked-keyboard instruments, including the smaller virginals, muselar, and spinet.

What is a harpsichord 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 distinctive sound of the harpsichord creates an almost immediately association with the baroque era.

Are harpsichords loud?

than the piano-and, indeed, any modern harpsichord. suites and ordres make it clear that the instruments, even if EARLY MUSIC MAY 1996 363 Page 2 they were loud (as loud as a thin-cased, well-made instru- ment of 5o notes can be) were softly voiced.

How do you pronounce harpsichord?

Break ‘harpsichord’ down into sounds: [HAAP] + [SI] + [KAWD] – say it out loud and exaggerate the sounds until you can consistently produce them.

How does the harpsichord work?

The metal strings are sounded by plucking with a small piece of material called a plectrum which is attached to the key mechanism. A downward stroke on the key raises the plectrum on the other end so that it plucks the string and then pivots so that it does not touch the string on the way down.

How is the harpsichord used?

The harpsichord was used both for solo performance and accompanying in chamber groups and in larger ensembles of the period. It typically had two sets of strings per key, tuned either to the same pitch or with one set sounding an octave higher (a 4′ register).

Can you play loud or soft on the 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. However, some large harpsichords have several “stops”, each one giving a different kind of sound.

How does the piano produce sound?

One end of the strings is supported on bridges, which are attached to the soundboard. The vibrations of the strings are transmitted to the soundboard through the bridges, and a loud sound resonates as a result of the soundboard vibrating the air. The entire piano, notably the soundboard, vibrates to produce sound.