Scores Harpsichord

The harpsichord is a keyboard and plucked string instrument, emblematic of the music of the XVIIᵉ and XVIIIᵉ centuries. Very prominent in the Baroque period, it was one of the major instruments before the rise of the piano.

How does it work?

Unlike the piano, where the strings are struck by hammers, the harpsichord produces sound by means of a system of springs:

• when a key is pressed
• a small mouthpiece (often made of feathers or modern plastic)
• plucks the string
• This creates a clear, precise and brilliant sound.

This mechanism explains the instrument's characteristic bright, incisive timbre, but also its main distinctive feature: the absence of dynamic nuances linked to the force with which the string is depressed (you don't play louder by pressing harder).

Its role in music

The harpsichord is inseparable from Baroque music. Composers such as :

• Johann Sebastian Bach
• François Couperin
• Domenico Scarlatti
• Jean-Philippe Rameau

It has two main functions:

• Solo instrument (suites, toccatas, sonatas)
• asan accompaniment instrument, particularly in the continuo, where it supports the voices and instruments.

Sound characteristics

• Brilliant, pearly, articulate timbre
• Great polyphonic clarity
• Ideal for ornaments and fast passages
• Variations in timbre possible thanks to different stops (8', 4', lute, etc.)

Some models have two keyboards (double manual), allowing contrasts of sound and rapid changes of registration.

An instrument of the past... and of today

After being eclipsed by the piano in the XIXᵉ century, the harpsichord enjoyed a revival in the XXᵉ century thanks to the historically informed performance movement. Today it is present :

• in baroque ensembles,
• in chamber music
• in certain contemporary works,
• and sometimes even in contemporary music or soundtracks.

The harpsichord captivates with its finesse, rhythmic precision and sonic elegance. An instrument of refinement and ornamentation, it remains an essential pillar of European musical culture.