Harpsichord
The earliest
harpsichord was an invention of Hermann Poll, active in Padua in
1397. From the beginning, the harpsichord was a popular domestic
instrument and manuscript music for it was soon in circulation.
However, harpsichord music was considered too frivolous for the
expenditure of the considerable skill that was required at the
time for printing, this being reserved for sacred music. By the
mid-17th century, however, printers and composers were producing
suites and dance music in abundance.
Domenico Scarletti
wrote at least 555 sonatas for harpsichord; meanwhile, it was
entering opera house and concert hall as a continuo instrument.
It was not given a concerto until Bach wrote a prominent part for
it in his Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 and arranged a
violin concerto for harpsichord in 1733. His son Carl Philipp
Emanuel produced the first original concerto that some year.
The harpsichord has
enjoyed renewed exposure in the 20th century: De Falla (in 1926)
and Frank martin (1952) are among those who have written
concertos for it. It also features in some recent symphonies.
Midi: Bach's Concerto for 4
Harpsichords
Two
skeletons copulating on a tin roof. -- Sir Thomas Beecham
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