Harpsichord

Harpsichord, a musical instrument with a key-board and strings, arranged in the same way as in the piano. The sound was produced by means of pieces of leather or crow-quill, which were inserted in "jacks" connected by levers with the keys, and were pushed upwards so as to twitch the strings. The form was usually that of the grand piano, but it was sometimes square or upright; when oblong the instrument was called a spinet or virginal. The sound produced was harsh, and there was no means of regulating its force. The keyboard was from 4 to 64; octaves in length, with one, two, three, or four strings, to each key. The harp is supposed to have been invented in the 14th century. It was known in England before 1502. Bach and Handel played on this instrument, and before the close of the 18th century it was regularly employed in orchestral music, and to accompanying recitations. It has now been superseded by the pianoforte.