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Questions tagged [harpsichord]

The predecessor of the modern piano, an instrument used in the Baroque and Classical eras.

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Figured Bass Standalone Accidentals

I'm wondering whether or not standalone accidentals always imply 3rds in figured bass notation. Is (5)(♭)(8) the same as (5)(3♭)(8)? Is (9)(♮) the same as (9)(3)? Can a figure 3 always be inserted ...
hello's user avatar
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9 votes
3 answers
607 views

Is this a common harpsichord technique in Bach's WTC 1 C-major Prelude?

In Wanda Landowska's recording of the opening prelude to J.S. Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, at the moment of dominant prolongation (shortly after the cued recording begins) she doubles the bass one ...
Richard's user avatar
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9 votes
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Dynamic markings in harpsichord music

I have come across books similar to L'Art de Toucher le Clavecin, but written by English Composers. One such book "The Art of Playing the Harpsichord" IMSLP page and similar works have ...
NBoss's user avatar
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1 answer
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Earliest piano lyre?

When was the first piano built/marketed/sold whose pedals were mounted on what we now call a lyre, instead of onto a harpsichord-like crossbar between the front legs?
Camille Goudeseune's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
1k views

What is this symbol?

This symbol from Les Baricades Mistérieuses, Couperin, 1717 is after the volta number 1. From recordings I can only guess a mordent. I've checked various music dictionaries and done several reverse ...
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8 votes
2 answers
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Why is Western European music harmonically driven?

I was reading an article where they said that the lute was derived from the oud, a fretless melodic Middle Eastern instrument. But they added frets to the lute in order to make it easier to harmonize ...
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4 votes
1 answer
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Baroque mordent with leading "slur"?

I'm currently studying Bach's Harpsichord Concerto BWV 1052 on the piano and arrived at the second movement. In there, I noticed a mordent that I'm not all too sure how to play. Here's a picture, it's ...
Alain's user avatar
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Why does the conductor also play harpsichord when there is already a harpsichordist in the orchestra?

When listening to Baroque chamber music, it is not uncommon to see the harpsichordist or the soloist being also the conductor. However, there were two harpsichords in this concert, one dual manual ...
Raven Cheuk's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
923 views

Piano: how to play (arpeggios in) music written for harpsichord

I'm playing Bach's Partita for harpsichord BWV 830 on piano (I don't play harpsichord), but this is a more general question really for other Bach keyboard music and also any keyboard music that was ...
Bob says reinstate Monica's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
1k views

can you play a harpsichord arrangement on a piano and vice versa?

can you play a piece of music arranged for harpsichord but play it on piano and can you play a piece of music arranged for a piano but play it on a harpsichord? to summarize, are keyboard instruments ...
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3 votes
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MIDI keyboard action for harpsichord practice

I'm a former pianist who would like to own and play an acoustic grand harpsichord one day, but until i finish school and have a more permanent living situation that will be neither practical nor ...
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8 votes
3 answers
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What are the numbers under the Harpsichord

I have a manuscript with strings and harpsichord. Under the bottom staff of the harpsichord there is numbers, like 7. What are these numbers and what do they represent?
Nachmen's user avatar
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6 votes
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Why are the Goldberg Variations considered a demanding work?

In print, the Goldbergs (Goldberg Variations) have a quasi-legendary status, a hallmark of technical difficulty. I was perusing the score and it doesn't look terribly intricate for what's possibly a ...
Some Dude On The Interwebs's user avatar
12 votes
8 answers
13k views

Switching from piano to harpsichord

I have been playing the piano for the most part of my life, but I am becoming increasingly interested in the harpsichord. Has anyone made this "transition" before? Are there some pitfalls which one ...
Constantin's user avatar
12 votes
2 answers
2k views

How can I play my new tenor recorder (a'=440) along with someone playing a harpsichord (a'=415)?

From an article I read online, I believe I've understood that it's possible to treat the middle C (fingers covering all holes) on the tenor as if it were a D flat, and all higher notes on the ...
dale's user avatar
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