What is Clavichord?
{{Infobox instrument | name = Clavichord | names = | image = Clavichord-JA Haas 007.jpg | image_capt = A clavichord | background = | classification = [[String instrument|String]] | hornbostel_sachs = | hornbostel_sachs_desc = | inventors = | developed = | range = | related = | musicians = | builders = | articles = }} A '''clavichord''' is a [[musical instrument]] like a small [[Keyboard instrument|keyboard]]. It was very popular for many years, especially in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. == Sound == The clavichord is a very quiet instrument. It is not suitable for playing with other instruments because it is so quiet. But it sounds very beautiful in slow, expressive music. It is used as a practice instrument by [[harpsichord]] players, or by organists who wanted to practice at home instead of in a (often very cold) church. They were so small that they could be lifted up and put on a table. They could be put one on top of another so that an organist could practise music written for a two-manual [[Organ (music)|organ]]. Sometimes, they even had [[pedal (music)|pedals]] for organists to practice this skill. == Uses == Many [[Germans|German]] composers like [[Johann Sebastian Bach]] wrote music for the “Clavier”. This meant any keyboard instrument: harpsichord, clavichord or organ. The player could choose which they wanted to use. When the [[piano]] suddenly became popular – in the 1760s and 1770s – people started to forget about harpsichords and clavichords. Today a few people make harpsichords and clavichords again so that people can play [[Renaissance music|Renaissance]] and [[Baroque music]] - the music from when the clavichord was popular. ==Other websites== {{commons cat-inline|Clavichords}} [[Category:Keyboard instruments]] [[Category:Early musical instruments]] [[Category:String instruments]] [[Category:Percussion instruments]]