Harpsichord
noun
A musical instrument similar to a piano but smaller and with strings plucked by pieces of quill.
She delighted everyone with her sublime performance on the harpsichord.
Often appears as...
- play the harpsichord
- harpsichord concerto
noun
A musical instrument similar to a piano but smaller and with strings plucked by pieces of quill.
She delighted everyone with her sublime performance on the harpsichord.
Often appears as...
- play the harpsichord
- harpsichord concerto
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Use
The harpsichord was popular in the 16th to 18th centuries, so it often appears in historical or classical music contexts.
Baroque composers like Bach often wrote pieces for the harpsichord.
Pro Tip 2/3Sound Quality
Unlike a piano, a harpsichord produces a distinctive, metallic sound because its strings are plucked, not hammered.
The harpsichord's sound can be heard clearly in the mix of old classical recordings.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Volume Adjustable
The harpsichord cannot play dynamics (loud and soft) because the mechanism plucks strings with consistent force.
Even when pressed hard, a harpsichord key will not make a louder sound like a piano does.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Use
The harpsichord was popular in the 16th to 18th centuries, so it often appears in historical or classical music contexts.
Baroque composers like Bach often wrote pieces for the harpsichord.
Pro Tip 2/3Sound Quality
Unlike a piano, a harpsichord produces a distinctive, metallic sound because its strings are plucked, not hammered.
The harpsichord's sound can be heard clearly in the mix of old classical recordings.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Volume Adjustable
The harpsichord cannot play dynamics (loud and soft) because the mechanism plucks strings with consistent force.
Even when pressed hard, a harpsichord key will not make a louder sound like a piano does.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Use
The harpsichord was popular in the 16th to 18th centuries, so it often appears in historical or classical music contexts.
Baroque composers like Bach often wrote pieces for the harpsichord.
Pro Tip 2/3Sound Quality
Unlike a piano, a harpsichord produces a distinctive, metallic sound because its strings are plucked, not hammered.
The harpsichord's sound can be heard clearly in the mix of old classical recordings.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Volume Adjustable
The harpsichord cannot play dynamics (loud and soft) because the mechanism plucks strings with consistent force.
Even when pressed hard, a harpsichord key will not make a louder sound like a piano does.
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Video examples
Why should you listen to...
would such expressive instrumental program music, as it was known, become popular. By then, larger, more varied ensembles were the rule with woodwinds, brass, and percussion to help tell the tale. But Vivaldi pulled it off with just one violin, strings, and a harpsichord.
Video examples
The Secret of Musical...
and you say give me a harpsichord right okay uh he came from a musical family mozart's father was an accomplished composer in his own right but once he realized how talented his son was he bent over backwards to support him he basically says my career is over my
Video examples
The playful wonderland...
what really made the modern computer possible? Yes, the military involvement is an important part of the story, but inventing a computer also required other building music boxes, toy robot flute players, harpsichord keyboards,
Video examples
Why should you listen to...
would such expressive instrumental program music, as it was known, become popular. By then, larger, more varied ensembles were the rule with woodwinds, brass, and percussion to help tell the tale. But Vivaldi pulled it off with just one violin, strings, and a harpsichord.
Video examples
The Secret of Musical...
and you say give me a harpsichord right okay uh he came from a musical family mozart's father was an accomplished composer in his own right but once he realized how talented his son was he bent over backwards to support him he basically says my career is over my
Video examples
The playful wonderland...
what really made the modern computer possible? Yes, the military involvement is an important part of the story, but inventing a computer also required other building music boxes, toy robot flute players, harpsichord keyboards,
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Mark Salling
American Actor
I decided I wanted to be a musician when I saw the movie 'Amadeus' around 1987. I was five years old, so it was a good time to start piano lessons after seeing Tom Hulce who played Mozart play the harpsichord on his back with his hands crossed. Such a great movie to inspire a five-year-old.
Quote examples
David Ogden Stiers
American Actor
The simple act of sitting down and playing something enormously complex and spiritually uplifting on a harpsichord just bores kids to tears. There's no sizzle, there's no grab. But it's the great lesson of serious music, that it invites you to listen, rather than demands that you listen.
Quote examples
Ted Cassidy
American Actor
Lurch's quietness is a result of personal dignity. He appreciates things of quality. His greatest joy is playing Bach on the harpsichord, and he recognizes the music as the result of 'a great human effort to express.
Quote examples
Peter Shaffer
English Playwright
There used to be a certain condescension to Mozart. His music was regarded as pleasant. He was a porcelain figure playing a porcelain harpsichord.
Quote examples
David Russell
Scottish Musician
I don't try to make the guitar sound like the harpsichord or lute. That makes you end up being like a bad copy.
Quote examples
Julia Holter
American Musician
I don't use the harpsichord because it evokes a past time period: I use it because I like the sound.
Quote examples
Eddie Condon
American Musician
Someday we may have as many followers as the harpsichord.
Quote examples
Mark Salling
American Actor
I decided I wanted to be a musician when I saw the movie 'Amadeus' around 1987. I was five years old, so it was a good time to start piano lessons after seeing Tom Hulce who played Mozart play the harpsichord on his back with his hands crossed. Such a great movie to inspire a five-year-old.
Quote examples
David Ogden Stiers
American Actor
The simple act of sitting down and playing something enormously complex and spiritually uplifting on a harpsichord just bores kids to tears. There's no sizzle, there's no grab. But it's the great lesson of serious music, that it invites you to listen, rather than demands that you listen.
Quote examples
Ted Cassidy
American Actor
Lurch's quietness is a result of personal dignity. He appreciates things of quality. His greatest joy is playing Bach on the harpsichord, and he recognizes the music as the result of 'a great human effort to express.
Quote examples
Peter Shaffer
English Playwright
There used to be a certain condescension to Mozart. His music was regarded as pleasant. He was a porcelain figure playing a porcelain harpsichord.
Quote examples
David Russell
Scottish Musician
I don't try to make the guitar sound like the harpsichord or lute. That makes you end up being like a bad copy.
Quote examples
Julia Holter
American Musician
I don't use the harpsichord because it evokes a past time period: I use it because I like the sound.
Quote examples
Eddie Condon
American Musician
Someday we may have as many followers as the harpsichord.
Example 1 of 7
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