Harpsichord (Harpsichord) – keyboard instrument of the 16th-18th centuries, once ruled European music.
This versatile instrument was a star in both Renaissance and Baroque works, shining as both an accompanist and a soloist. Differently designed, harpsichords typically had two or more sets of strings, each producing unique sounds. The sound was amplified by the soundboard under the strings, which transmitted vibrations through the bridge. The strings were plucked with needles rather than struck with hammers, so the key could produce only one speed.
Harpsichords flourished throughout Europe, with centers of production located in Italy, Flanders, France, Germany and England. These instruments varied in configuration, with different keyboard settings, foot pedals, and hand rests. Their cases were often exquisite works of art, decorated with inlays, paintings and intricate surface decoration. The plucked strings of the harpsichord produced a rich, clear sound that enriched the complex melodies of Baroque music. Almost every Baroque composer wrote for the harpsichord, whether soloist or continuo.
We sampled a prestigious 18th-century Italian Bizzi harpsichord that belonged to Claudia Ferrero, a renowned Renaissance teacher and performer in Europe. The instrument was carefully recorded to preserve the unique sonic characteristics of both the instrument and the room. Cozy studio located in the beautiful countryside of San Raffaele Cimena, Italy.
We faithfully sampled every interesting sound we could get from this instrument using two stereo microphone positions: bridge and soundboard. We captured piano and forte registers, slides, slides, percussion hits, plucks, scrapes and taps. We’ve also included a wide selection of custom effect presets and plenty of our signature ambient audio content created from raw acoustic sources to give you complete creative freedom.