harpsichord

Keyboar instrument (Hornbostel-Sachs: 314.122-6-8)

Trivia about harpsichord

This piano ancestor is named for its similarity to another instrument whose strings are also plucked
Many of Francois Couperin's works were written for this old keyboard instrument, including 27 suites
Between 1713 & 1730 Francois Couperin published 4 books of suites for this precursor of the piano
During the 16th & 17th centuries, a small type of this instrument was called a virginal
Handel's keyboard music was written mainly for this stringed instrument
It's the instrument heard here going solo in a Bach concerto
Polish musician Wanda Landowska was credited with modern revival of this instrument
Wanda Landowska initiated the revival of this plucked keyboard instrument in the 20th century
In the late 1500s the Ruckers of Antwerp were the most prominent makers of this keyboard instrument
Lurch into this instrument
On this pre-piano item played by Lurch on TV, the strings are plucked by points connected with the keys
Also called a cembalo, it's the keyboard instrument heard here