Harpsichord
The harpsichord in five languages — harpsichord, Cembalo, clavecin
Related
Five languages
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 羽管键琴 |
| English | harpsichord |
| Italian | clavicembalo |
| German | Cembalo |
| French | clavecin |
The harpsichord is a keyboard instrument whose keys pluck strings with plectra, formerly made of quill — hence the Chinese 羽管键琴. English harpsichord joins harp and chord; Italian clavicembalo, German Cembalo and French clavecin all descend from Latin cymbalum, the same root as cymbal.
Watch out: harpsichord and piano look alike, but the one plucks and the other strikes; the harpsichord cannot change volume through touch, dynamics coming only from stops or extra choirs, while the piano responds to finger weight. This is a key reason the piano replaced it.
Read deeper → Harpsichord · Piano
Sources
- 各语种乐器名与 harpsichord 的词源，参 The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, "Harpsichord"；译名依通行音乐术语词典；本文为原创表述
Used for fact-checking only; all prose is original.