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Type of Submission
Podium Presentation
Keywords
Keyboard instruments, clavichord, harpsichord, pianoforte, early keyboard techniques
Proposal
Keyboard instruments have always been known for their popularity throughout the centuries, however not much is known about the specificity of the characteristics and techniques which define each instrument such as the clavichord, harpsichord, and pianoforte as standing independently from one another. Repertoire composed for these instruments portray defining techniques commonly used for each instrument. The clavichord is unique in the aspect that it contains a mechanism which allows for a slight vibrato type sound to be produced, the harpsichord was attributed with being one of the first keyboard instruments to have been involved in a large chamber ensemble, and finally the pianoforte is known for its range of dynamics and increased use as a virtuosic solo instrument. These are just a few of the many examples of the characteristics which comprise each instrument as specifically unique. Some composers such as J. S. Bach, C. P. E. Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, Clementi, and Mozart who composed for the keyboards, added various techniques of which were capable of these instruments into their own compositions. Keyboard music from the time period shows the different capabilities and techniques relating to the keyboard instrument for which it was composed, thus also demonstrating each keyboard instrument as independent from one another in their characteristics, techniques, and sound.
Start Date
4-8-2020 1:00 PM
End Date
4-22-2020 6:00 PM
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Publication Date
April 2020
Early Keyboard Instruments: Assessing and Differentiating the Defining Techniques and Characteristics
Keyboard instruments have always been known for their popularity throughout the centuries, however not much is known about the specificity of the characteristics and techniques which define each instrument such as the clavichord, harpsichord, and pianoforte as standing independently from one another. Repertoire composed for these instruments portray defining techniques commonly used for each instrument. The clavichord is unique in the aspect that it contains a mechanism which allows for a slight vibrato type sound to be produced, the harpsichord was attributed with being one of the first keyboard instruments to have been involved in a large chamber ensemble, and finally the pianoforte is known for its range of dynamics and increased use as a virtuosic solo instrument. These are just a few of the many examples of the characteristics which comprise each instrument as specifically unique. Some composers such as J. S. Bach, C. P. E. Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, Clementi, and Mozart who composed for the keyboards, added various techniques of which were capable of these instruments into their own compositions. Keyboard music from the time period shows the different capabilities and techniques relating to the keyboard instrument for which it was composed, thus also demonstrating each keyboard instrument as independent from one another in their characteristics, techniques, and sound.
