Harpsichord Facts: Amazing Details On This Musical Instrument Revealed

It is claimed that harpsichords were created by combining pianos and psalteries.

Harpsichord was known as one of the early keyboard instruments to be introduced to the world of music. Harpsichord music is especially beautiful when you play the keys that then strum the strings via a plectrum.

The harpsichord was a symbol of royalty and aristocracy during the Baroque era, a time when aristocratic figures, including famous queens and kings, flaunted this musical instrument. During this era, the harpsichord was one of the many essential aristocratic and sacred instruments.

The harpsichord is much like the piano, in that it was very important in the 18th century and has still not become obsolete even today, and it remains one of the most unique and popular instruments in the world of music.

The harpsichord as an instrument has a long and colorful past. Its keyboard is, in fact, attached to the psaltery, setting it apart from clavichords, where the strings are usually hit separately. The piano is therefore much closer in relation to the clavichord than the harpsichord.

When you play the piano, it is possible to control the volume of the sound, but you cannot do this with the harpsichord. When we take a look at the evolution of these instruments, we see that the upright piano was invented in the 1800s.

The harpsichord was created in Italy around the 1500s with a complex mechanism for the time. It was a marvel in the way it was created and with the materials for it to be able to produce its signature sound.

Instrument Family Of The Harpsichord

Harpsichords were quite an essential instrument in music. These are used as solo instruments or can accompany the orchestra. Several famous composers have used the harpsichord to create their music, such as Francois Couperin, William Byrd, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Domenico Scarlatti.

People often wonder what harpsichord strings are made of. These strings are made of metals now, but earlier in history, they were made with sturdy feathers pulled from a raven or crow, with a string length of 8 ft (2.4 m). There are four to five octaves on harpsichords creating 60 notes.

There are many different musical instruments that appear in the family of harpsichords:

Virginals: The instrument's small and straightforward rectangular form holds only one string per note. Along the length of the keyboard, you can see the strings run parallel.

Spinet: Octave-pitch Spinets had strings set at an angle of 30 degrees from the keyboard. It looks like a small piano but with a more triangular shape.

Ottavino: There used to be small virginals or octave-pitched spinets that were more common in the early renaissance, but their popularity later declined. These come under the soundboard of a larger instrument and are quite the popular domestic instrument in Italy.

Others: There are many other harpsichords that have different keyboard layouts and designs. The instruments are commonly used with split sharps and designed to accommodate a tuning system. The pedal harpsichord has another set of strings underneath which it is operated.

Invention History Of The Harpsichord

Early in the 16th century, the harpsichord sound was first heard when it was invented. Harpsichords made in Italy had low string tension, making them lightweight instruments. These were one of the earliest keyboard instruments, with a long strip of wood attached to the plectrum, known as plucks, which produced the music.

This musical string instrument is also quite similar to the piano yet very different in function. Both are keyboard instruments, but unlike the piano, if you press the key on the harpsichord keyboard, a corresponding string gets plucked, thereby creating its signature sound.

Characteristics Of The Harpsichord

Generally speaking, the harpsichord is narrower and longer than the piano, although they have the same shape but with different operations. Why, though, is a harpsichord equipped with two keyboards?

There are two manuals in the largest harpsichords because they offer more variety in sound and dynamics. A harpsichord, therefore, comprises 60 keys! It is a known fact that when you play the harpsichord, it becomes hard to control the keys, as you cannot control the volume in the same way as the piano.

The harpsichord was invented in ancient times, around the third century BC. The keys of the harpsichord plucks the string and do not strike it, which is why its mechanism resembles a guitar more than a piano, as it also makes a similar tone. When a person plucks the string, it vibrates and makes a resonant sound.

Related Instruments To The Harpsichord

There are several types of instruments that you can find which are similar to a harpsichord. It is often used mainly as a solo instrument but also serves as part of an ensemble.

There are a set of two manual strings that have characteristically immediate, intense, and percussive tones. The primary type that was used in the early 17th century was the Flemish harpsichords and virginals.

Harpsichords have a solid construction and have two sets of strings. If you want to know whether a harpsichord is a percussion instrument, then the answer is yes!

It would be ideal for a person to choose this type of instrument to pick up, but do you know how much a harpsichord really costs? It can be built quickly, but the cost can vary between the range of $14,000 and $18,000, depending on the features and finish.

You may also read up about the spinet; these small harpsichords generally have one string per note. However, they also have a shorter string length placed diagonally to save space for other strings and also for the user to be able to play them.

FAQs

How many keys are on a harpsichord?

There are a total of 60 keys on a harpsichord that rely on the plectrum.

How old is the harpsichord?

The instrument was first invented in 1400, and the oldest surviving harpsichord dates back to 1500.

How does a harpsichord produce sound?

The sound from the harpsichord and its rectangular and triangular-shaped relative is formed by plucking the strings.

When was the upright piano invented?

The upright piano was invented in the 19th century by John Isaac Hawkins.

When was the keyboard instrument invented?

In the third century BC, the first keyboard instrument was invented.

Is a harpsichord a percussion instrument?

Yes, it is considered a percussion instrument.

Why do harpsichords have two keyboards?

It has two manual keyboards used to control the sets of strings.

How much does a harpsichord cost?

You can build or order a harpsichord for anywhere between $14,000 and $18,000.

What are harpsichord strings made of?

A harpsichord has four to five octaves, or you could say 60 notes made from metal, and so it has metal strings. These strings were originally made out of leather or bird quill. Modern harpsichords also use plectra made of plastic.