Written By John Bradley
It began with the psaltery, a wooden instrument with strings stretched across its length. However, musicians could only pluck one string at a time to produce sound on it. Then there came the keyboard. With it, musicians could create chords and more sophisticated melodies.
Historical records show that the first known mention of the harpsichord was in 1397, in the estate inventory of Hermann Poll, a citizen of Flanders.
Unlike the piano, the harpsichord produces sound by plucking strings using a mechanism called a jack and plectrum. Each key is connected to a jack, which lifts when the key is pressed, causing the plectrum to pluck the string. When the key is released, the jack falls back down. A small piece of felt or cloth, known as the damper, touches the string and stops it from vibrating.
The volume doesn’t change no matter how hard you press the key because the mechanism only plucks the string with the same strength each time. This lack of dynamics creates both challenges and opportunities for musicians. It limits the instrument’s expressive range but also encourages players to find other ways to express themselves.
Each key on a harpsichord usually plucks several strings, which gives it a unique sound. The mechanism lifts a jack that plucks two or three strings per key. Players can adjust how many strings are plucked using stops; this changes the instrument’s tone. This was important in the Baroque era when composers wrote complex polyphonic music because the multiple strings emphasized intricate melodies.
The harpsichord was first made using various materials, including animal products. The plectrum was often made from bird quills, especially crow quills because they were strong and flexible. The strings were usually made from gut, typically sheep intestines, known for their warm and rich sound. Modern harpsichords keep many traditional features in their construction but with some changes. The plectra are often made of strong plastic now, while the strings are usually made from steel or brass.
Harpsichords are affected by changes in humidity and temperature, so they need to be tuned before each performance.
