In full-size harpsichords and bentside spinets, the jacks are all parallel to the keys. In virginals, like the one in the video, the jacks progressively get further away from the keys in order to match the strings. I would think the lever distance would change the sensitivity of the keys. Can you feel a difference in the responsiveness when playing these two types of harpsichords?
I would like to hear the comparison between buff stop and the original lute stop (not the one that use leather damper but the one with different plucking mechanism.)
We've been conditioned to think that people in past centuries were somehow less intelligent that us. The medieval times especially get an unjustly bad reputation. People back than were just as smart as us, we've just been building on their achievements.
Wow, 10:00 to 10:35 has similarities to the Stradella bass system on an accordion! The "unexpected pitches" relate to the 2nd row bass buttons moving in ascending and descending 5ths. The split keys relate to the 1st row bass buttons all being a major 3rd above their respective second row buttons! So as a rhythm section, you have your I-IV-V's and 3rds and 5ths all within quick reach!
I echo the sentiments of the other commenters on how informative this video is. I especially appreciated how the camera shots of the interior were remarkably clear and beautiful. Well done!
I'm here because I've just finished the book The Piano Shop on the Left Bank by T E Carhart. i don't know a single thing about music but he showed his passion.
My husband and I attend the theatre quite often and we’re so lucky as it’s very close to where we live. We attend the opera, the 🩰 ballet as well as 🎭 plays. One conductor plays the pianoforte and conducts at the same time. I know you’re not discussing the pianoforte; but I still find it amazing to watch. Thanks again, Alice. ♥️ 🎹
Bill Napier-Hemy made a Touch-Sensitive Harpsichord which is touch sensitive like a Piano because the action has been slightly modified. He swapped the original picks with much thinner ones so that it's possible to play at various dynamics like our modern day Pianos.
Love this! I used to listen to a ton of metal myself--mostly death and thrash and occasionally black metal. Any music/bands/songs in particular that led you to harpsichord specifically?
Thank God I found you and for such beautiful music and close up camera and working of the jack tongue and mechanisms. This answers my question of how the.plectrum moves out of the way when returning to its original position. Great camera work and explanations.
Fascinating! I knew harpsichords differed from pianos, in that the strings were plucked rather than struck, but had never looked into how this was done - now I know, and more! Thanks for the insightful video and demonstrations!
Fascinating. Thank you for taking the time to share this. This only adds to the fascination one can easily have for the uniqueness of this instrument. The richness of the sounds and the variants added wonderfully to this. The double keyboard info added even more. Thanks again!
A Pedal Harpsichord works the same way the only difference is that it also has Bass Pedals like an Organ which make it possible to play both Harpsichord and Organ music.
One of my earliest exposures as a child, to a harpsichord, was watching The Lonely Squire of Gothos, Trelane, annoy the command crew of the USS Enterprise, on Star Trek, (duh,) and taught Lt. Uhura how to play his harpsichord, by waving his hand. Too bad it isn’t that simple in reality. Thanks for the vid, very informative. You pulled that jack out and I went, (gasp!) but then I remembered, oh yea, they just sit in the harpsichord, not connected to the levers, hence the need for a jack rail...
Addition: I could hear a helicopter flying around while you made this vid. It had the slow blade slap of either a two blade single main, like many Bell helicopters, (Huey’s, Cobra’s, 222, 230, etc,) but also sounded like the three bladed double mains of a CH-47 Chinook. I couldn’t hear a tail rotor buzz, indicating a CH-47, but it may have just been too far away to hear a tail rotor. My ears actually speak the language of helicopter better than that of music.
Great series of videos I particularly liked the frescobaldi. Do you have a website where we can hear more about you and learn of your availability to instruct?
I am a hobbiest historical improvisor, and just managed to acquire my first harpsichord though it needs some TLC. I would be grateful for any direction towards resources on how to care for and effect simple repairs on mine. It is a basic single keyboard "noise box" as far as I can tell. I am lucky in that I do have access to spare parts, (I work in a music conservatory) but it appears to me that the plectrum on a few jacks need replacing and my G3 key seems to be a bit "sticky" Minor stuff, but I would be really excited to properly practice partimento realization on a real instrument and so any advice you experts have would be gratefully received. I am very excited to explore and learn about this instrument. Practicing on piano is fine and all but it is just..not the same.
Thank you so much for your comment! There is a great book that covers all aspects of harpsichord care and repair--it is called "The Harpsichord Owner's Guide" and is by Edward L. Kottick. I'd highly recommend getting that. There's also a great group on Facebook called "HARPSICHORD - CEMBALO - CLAVECIN - KLAVECYMBEL" (facebook.com/groups/2386034163) that's full of builders, technicians, hobbyists, amateur and professional players, and is a place where you can ask specific repair and maintenance questions and can usually get very helpful and insighful answers. Hope that helps!
Tuning, Alice! Pre-JS Bach, I presume many Klaviers were not well-tempered. So what tunings did they have, and how did tuners tune them, In fact, were there even tuners, or did everyone tune their own? (How?)
I wonder what would famous piano rock songs. Like. Billy Joe piano man. Elton John candle in the wind. Little Richard's tutti frutti. And. Jerry Lee Lewis great balls of fire. Being played on a harpsichord? That would be pretty interesting.
Dear , I am writing to inquire about your permission to use your video clip. This is , the Korean TV show which is broadcasted on JTBC (Korean TV channel). With your permission, I'd like to use your video to introduce a harpsichord. It will be broadcasted at 9PM on 31 July 2023. Thank you for your kind attention and I look forward to hearing from you.
Indeed! However, in the United States, at least, what is actually a buff stop is usually called a lute stop even though a lute stop is really something different (which is why I spoke of them as interchangeable in this video). Perhaps in another video I will describe the true difference between the two!
@@harpsichord Good. Yes, calling the buff stop (or mute stop) as lute stop is a common mistake. I really like your continuo videos and please make more, many thanks!
Hello, why couldn't you Try Remaking A Daddy Grand Piano by putting on 88 Tuning Forks like what you did on an Upright Piano, Please do the Same Thing on a Daddy Grand Piano For Most of us UA-camrs, It will be a much Better Idea For us so we can Try and See and Hear It Thank You.
What do you want to know about the harpsichord that I didn’t cover here? Let me know with a comment below!
What type of string is used in harpsichord?
@@leonhardeuler8457 The bottom half-or-so of the keyboard is strung with yellow brass wire, and the upper register is strung with iron wire.
But some harpsichords (especially Italian harpsichords) are often strung in all yellow brass or a combination of yellow and red brass!
In full-size harpsichords and bentside spinets, the jacks are all parallel to the keys. In virginals, like the one in the video, the jacks progressively get further away from the keys in order to match the strings. I would think the lever distance would change the sensitivity of the keys. Can you feel a difference in the responsiveness when playing these two types of harpsichords?
I would like to hear the comparison between buff stop and the original lute stop (not the one that use leather damper but the one with different plucking mechanism.)
The most comprehensive explanation of the double keyboard harpsichord I’ve seen! Thanks!!
Thanks for your comment! I'm so glad you found my video helpful!
And to think that people, hundreds of years ago, made such finely detailed and specific moving parts with such tiny pieces. Astounding!
We've been conditioned to think that people in past centuries were somehow less intelligent that us. The medieval times especially get an unjustly bad reputation. People back than were just as smart as us, we've just been building on their achievements.
I was wondering how it plucks without also plucking on the way back down. What an ingenious design!
Wow, 10:00 to 10:35 has similarities to the Stradella bass system on an accordion! The "unexpected pitches" relate to the 2nd row bass buttons moving in ascending and descending 5ths. The split keys relate to the 1st row bass buttons all being a major 3rd above their respective second row buttons! So as a rhythm section, you have your I-IV-V's and 3rds and 5ths all within quick reach!
This is the first time I’ve ever seen the insides and the workings of the harpsichord. Very interesting! Thank you! 🙂🎵
What a thorough video! I'm showing this video to my music students! Thank you so much for including examples of your playing too!
Thank you so much! I'm so glad that you found my video useful and helpful, and hopefully your students will, too!
Thank you for explaining this, Alice. Many of my friends ask questions about my piano vs my harpsichord. You’ve covered all bases here. Well done!
I echo the sentiments of the other commenters on how informative this video is. I especially appreciated how the camera shots of the interior were remarkably clear and beautiful. Well done!
excellent presentation of the instrument.
Thanks for the presentation!
I'm here because I've just finished the book The Piano Shop on the Left Bank by T E Carhart. i don't know a single thing about music but he showed his passion.
This was interesting and helpful since I'm trying to learn how to play and care for a harpsichord. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, this was very interesting!
My husband and I attend the theatre quite often and we’re so lucky as it’s very close to where we live. We attend the opera, the 🩰 ballet as well as 🎭 plays. One conductor plays the pianoforte and conducts at the same time. I know you’re not discussing the pianoforte; but I still find it amazing to watch. Thanks again, Alice. ♥️ 🎹
Bill Napier-Hemy made a Touch-Sensitive Harpsichord which is touch sensitive like a Piano because the action has been slightly modified. He swapped the original picks with much thinner ones so that it's possible to play at various dynamics like our modern day Pianos.
I got down a heavy metal and classical music comparisons rabbit hole and ended up here. Thanks for the great breakdown, Doctor!
Love this! I used to listen to a ton of metal myself--mostly death and thrash and occasionally black metal. Any music/bands/songs in particular that led you to harpsichord specifically?
@@harpsichord Children of Bodom. RIP Alexi
This is so helpful. Answered questions that I’ve been carrying for 60 years or more. Thank you. Loved your playing!
Thank God I found you and for such beautiful music and close up camera and working of the jack tongue and mechanisms.
This answers my question of how the.plectrum moves out of the way when returning to its original position. Great camera work and explanations.
Thank you so much and I'm so glad you found my video useful!
Thank you very much for the explanation of the instrument!
Great video! Just what I was looking for to help me better understand the harpsichord. Thanks!
Great video! Thank you for sharing this
Fascinating! I knew harpsichords differed from pianos, in that the strings were plucked rather than struck, but had never looked into how this was done - now I know, and more! Thanks for the insightful video and demonstrations!
Thanks so much for wathcing and I'm so glad my video was helpful for you!
Fascinating.
Thank you for taking the time to share this. This only adds to the fascination one can easily have for the uniqueness of this instrument. The richness of the sounds and the variants added wonderfully to this. The double keyboard info added even more.
Thanks again!
Thanks for your explanation. I've been meaning to find out for years. Accessible to a great many people I'm sure.
Great explanation about the instrument. I would like to see more analysis on playing harpsichord pieces. All the best!
Lovely explanation.. thank you so much.
Well, only took 27 years but I finally found out how harpsichord works :p thx for making
A fantastically useful video, Alice, as I'm restoring a Bolton kit instrument at the moment. You are also a wonderful player, thank-you!
Thanks for the Video, now I´m able to understand how does it work. This is one of my favorite instruments.
Thank you! Great insight to the instrument especially the jacks section. One day I hope to build myself one.
Gracias for this brilliant explanation
This was an excellent explanation! Thanks!
Really loved this and so nice❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked the video!
Thank you so much, this was exactly what I was looking for!
Very interesting! I learned a lot. Thank you :-)
Thank you this was very detailed as I wanted
Thank you for watching! I’m so glad my video was helpful for you!
Thank you, very informative.
Marvelous! Thank you.
Moça, a senhora fez um vídeo muito bom. Muito bem explicado.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge, and experience
Respect from Serbia. Finally we laymen could learn something.
How would this sound if the red buffer was not there?
❤thank you!
works like a guitar
I have a question: I remember seeing a photograph of Wanda Landowska's instrument with about 8 pedals. What's the story there?
A Pedal Harpsichord works the same way the only difference is that it also has Bass Pedals like an Organ which make it possible to play both Harpsichord and Organ music.
I’d like to know how a seasoned pianist would transition to the harpsichord and vice versa…
Thank you madam. Now i can make a small onein my home with fishing line
Brilliant
One of my earliest exposures as a child, to a harpsichord, was watching The Lonely Squire of Gothos, Trelane, annoy the command crew of the USS Enterprise, on Star Trek, (duh,) and taught Lt. Uhura how to play his harpsichord, by waving his hand.
Too bad it isn’t that simple in reality.
Thanks for the vid, very informative. You pulled that jack out and I went, (gasp!) but then I remembered, oh yea, they just sit in the harpsichord, not connected to the levers, hence the need for a jack rail...
Addition: I could hear a helicopter flying around while you made this vid. It had the slow blade slap of either a two blade single main, like many Bell helicopters, (Huey’s, Cobra’s, 222, 230, etc,) but also sounded like the three bladed double mains of a CH-47 Chinook. I couldn’t hear a tail rotor buzz, indicating a CH-47, but it may have just been too far away to hear a tail rotor.
My ears actually speak the language of helicopter better than that of music.
*THE LADY is adorable.*
And the video is great, of course.
Great series of videos I particularly liked the frescobaldi. Do you have a website where we can hear more about you and learn of your availability to instruct?
I am a hobbiest historical improvisor, and just managed to acquire my first harpsichord though it needs some TLC. I would be grateful for any direction towards resources on how to care for and effect simple repairs on mine. It is a basic single keyboard "noise box" as far as I can tell. I am lucky in that I do have access to spare parts, (I work in a music conservatory) but it appears to me that the plectrum on a few jacks need replacing and my G3 key seems to be a bit "sticky" Minor stuff, but I would be really excited to properly practice partimento realization on a real instrument and so any advice you experts have would be gratefully received. I am very excited to explore and learn about this instrument. Practicing on piano is fine and all but it is just..not the same.
Thank you so much for your comment! There is a great book that covers all aspects of harpsichord care and repair--it is called "The Harpsichord Owner's Guide" and is by Edward L. Kottick. I'd highly recommend getting that. There's also a great group on Facebook called "HARPSICHORD - CEMBALO - CLAVECIN - KLAVECYMBEL" (facebook.com/groups/2386034163) that's full of builders, technicians, hobbyists, amateur and professional players, and is a place where you can ask specific repair and maintenance questions and can usually get very helpful and insighful answers. Hope that helps!
@@harpsichord This is a HUGE help, thank you!
Did you have to build (or assemble) this instrument yourself?
Zuckermann virginal 🥰 I had one
Tuning, Alice! Pre-JS Bach, I presume many Klaviers were not well-tempered. So what tunings did they have, and how did tuners tune them, In fact, were there even tuners, or did everyone tune their own? (How?)
How did harpsichords design change in accordance with the different venues (and/or different music genres) they were played in?
P.s. great video! Super helpful thanks!
I wonder what would famous piano rock songs.
Like.
Billy Joe piano man.
Elton John candle in the wind.
Little Richard's tutti frutti.
And.
Jerry Lee Lewis great balls of fire.
Being played on a harpsichord?
That would be pretty interesting.
I sold mine to a church 🥰... I miss it now 😢
Is the action heavier when you switch a manual from playing one course to two or three?
dont know if someone else ask this but, are the higher key heavier? for the difference in lenght
Dear , I am writing to inquire about your permission to use your video clip. This is , the Korean TV show which is broadcasted on JTBC (Korean TV channel). With your permission, I'd like to use your video to introduce a harpsichord. It will be broadcasted at 9PM on 31 July 2023. Thank you for your kind attention and I look forward to hearing from you.
It’s basically a guitar-piano
0:27
Ganhou inscrito!
If the string is plucked and not hit like the piano does that dynamics don’t exist for a harpsichord
buff stop and lute stop are different
Indeed! However, in the United States, at least, what is actually a buff stop is usually called a lute stop even though a lute stop is really something different (which is why I spoke of them as interchangeable in this video). Perhaps in another video I will describe the true difference between the two!
@@harpsichord Good. Yes, calling the buff stop (or mute stop) as lute stop is a common mistake. I really like your continuo videos and please make more, many thanks!
Hello, why couldn't you Try Remaking A Daddy Grand Piano by putting on 88 Tuning Forks like what you did on an Upright Piano,
Please do the Same Thing on a Daddy Grand Piano For Most of us UA-camrs, It will be a much Better Idea For us so we can Try and See
and Hear It Thank You.
Amazing piece of engineering, but I can't stand the sound of a harpsichord.
Do you play the Poulenc Concerto❤?