The harpsichord is a plucked-string keyboard instrument, renowned for its bright, bell-like tone and its central role in European music from the Renaissance to the Baroque era.
Although the piano later eclipsed it, it remains a symbol of elegance, craftsmanship, and historical performance practice.
The harpsichord emerged in late medieval Europe, with the earliest references dating from the 15th century. It likely evolved from the psaltery and other plucked string instruments, adapted to a keyboard mechanism.
By the 16th and 17th centuries, it had become a dominant instrument in courts and churches, flourishing in Italy, Flanders, France, and later England and Germany. Builders such as the Ruckers family in Antwerp set the standard for craftsmanship, while French makers expanded its expressive range with multiple keyboards and registers.
Unlike the piano, which strikes strings with hammers, the harpsichord plucks strings with quills or plectra mounted on wooden jacks. Each key raises a jack, causing the plectrum to pluck the string, producing a crisp, articulate sound. The soundboard, made of spruce or similar resonant wood, amplifies the vibrations. Many instruments feature two manuals (keyboards) and multiple choirs of strings, allowing performers to vary timbre and volume by engaging different registers.
Variants include virginals (a compact, rectangular form popular in England and the Low Countries), spinets (smaller, angular instruments suited for domestic use), double-manual harpsichords (favored in France and Germany, offering greater tonal variety), and ottavini (small octave harpsichords producing a higher pitch).
The harpsichord was the backbone of Baroque music, used both as a solo instrument and in continuo playing, where it provided harmonic support in ensembles. Composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, François Couperin, Domenico Scarlatti, and George Frideric Handel wrote extensively for it. By the late 18th century, the piano's dynamic capabilities had led to the decline of the harpsichord, although it experienced a 20th-century revival through the early music movement.
Harpsichord technique emphasizes clarity, articulation, and ornamentation rather than dynamic shading, since the instrument cannot vary volume by touch. Players rely on finger independence, rhythmic precision, and embellishments to create expressive performances. Registration changes, such as switching stops or manuals, provide contrast in timbre.
The harpsichord's repertoire is vast, and includes English virginalists (William Byrd, John Bull), French clavecinists (Couperin, Rameau), Italian masters (Frescobaldi, Scarlatti), and German composers (Bach, Telemann). Its music ranges from intricate dance suites and toccatas to monumental fugues and concertos.
Five famous harpsichordists include Wanda Landowska, Gustav Leonhardt, Scott Ross, Trevor Pinnock, and Ton Koopman.
We have included several online resources for the harpsichord below. E-commerce sites, such as those offering harpsichords for sale, may be found in our Musical Instruments category.
Recommended Resources
The BHS promotes awareness, enjoyment, study, playing, and ownership of harpsichords and related plucked keyboard instruments in the United Kingdom. It organizes events, maintains a diary of concerts and recitals, and publishes an e-magazine called Sounding Board for members. Its website features Society news, a calendar of events, membership details, and other resources, such as information on learning to play, listening, performing, and member CDs and scores.
https://www.harpsichord.org.uk/
Harpsichord & Fortepiano Magazine
Published by Peacock Press LTD, which acquired the title and domain from Early Music Media, the magazine is available by subscription, in digital format only, or in both print and digital formats. Its content includes an overview of instrument construction, history, tuning, and context, along with pedagogy, playing techniques, and performance practices, music written for early keyboards, composer information, reviews, and updates on seminars, festivals, conferences, museums, and collections.
https://hfmagazine.info/
Harpsichordia is a two-part documentary film project that explores the history of the harpsichord musical instrument, its composers, repertoire, and the instrument's modern revival, as well as its various facets. The website includes a teaser for Part 1, entitled "Stonebreaker," along with an overview of the project, key personnel involved in its production, photographs and videos, and an email address and online contact form for press and media inquiries about the project.
https://www.harpsichordia.com/
The official homepage for harpsichordist and pianist Jean Rondeau features news, releases, and links to his social channels and label partners. Key highlights include his latest album, label, and credits, as well as his discography (with links to stream individual pieces), contact information for professional inquiries, YouTube and social media links, copyright details, and photographs. High-definition images and biographical information can be downloaded from the website.
https://www.jean-rondeau.com/
Mahan Esfahani is a Grammy and Opus Klassik-winning harpsichordist known for adventurous programming that bridges Baroque repertoire and contemporary music, and for performing internationally at major festivals and concert halls. He is an active recording artist with releases that explore both historical and underperformed 20th-century works for harpsichord. Tours, schedules, press information, recordings, news, biographical data, and contact details are provided.
https://www.mahanesfahani.com/
South London Harpsichord Academy
Established and run by the London-based harpsichordist Masumi Yamamoto, the South London Harpsichord Academy is a small music academy and YouTube channel dedicated to promoting the harpsichord and related plucked keyboard instruments (spinet, virginals). It uploads practice and tutorial videos aimed at beginners and exam candidates. The Academy posts practice reminders, new video announcements, and project updates, and links to its YouTube channel and Facebook page are included.
https://www.southlondonharpsichordacademy.com/
Ton Koopman is an internationally renowned conductor, organist, and harpsichordist who specializes in Baroque music. The website highlights his passion for performance on organ and harpsichord, as well as his work leading ensembles and choirs. Recent news and milestones are highlighted, along with upcoming concerts and events, discography, and his work with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir. Resources include concert information, full concert listings, and ticket links.
https://www.tonkoopman.nl/en
