Harpsichord

Harpsichord, a keyed musical instrument, formerly in extensive use, but now little known. There were three shapes: the 'grand' form, resembling a grand piano; the oblong, often called spinet or virginal; and the upright, this type very rare. The sound from the strings was produced by a small piece of crow-quill, or a piece of hard leather, which projected out of a slip of wood, called the jack, that stood upright between the strings, and was pushed upwards by the key, till the quill or leather twitched the string, causing a brilliant, but somewhat harsh sound, entirely deficient of any means of modification in respect to loudness or softness. Specimens of the harpsichord, although now becoming more rare, are still to be found in good preservation, but are regarded rather as articles of vertu or curiosity than as useful musical instruments. Many Italian and Dutch harpsichords were highly ornamented by the most eminent artists with valuable panel paintings on the inside of the lid. The date of the invention of the harpsichord is uncertain. It is first mentioned in the rules of the Minnesingers by Eberhard Cersne, in 1404, which places its invention in the preceding century. It was known in England in the 15th century, as mention occurs of it in a MS. dated 1502, where it is alluded to as no novelty. The Ruckers family were the great makers in Antwerp in the 16th and 17th centuries. In the 18th century Kirkman, and later Broadwood and Shudi, were the famous makers in London. The harpsichord will be remembered in history as the instrument on which Bach and Handel played. After the invention of the pianoforte, the harpsichord in all its varieties was gradually superseded by the new instrument. See PIANOFORTE.