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{klav'-i-kord}
The clavichord is the simplest of the keyed STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.
Contained in a shallow, rectangular box, its strings are suspended
over a shallow bridge extending past felt dampers. Pressing
a key raises a thin brass tangent, or blade, that activates
the string, dividing it into two sections; one is free to
vibrate, and the other is damped. The pitch is determined
by the length of the string from the end that is free to vibrate
to the blade of the tangent. When the key is released, the
string is stopped by the damper. Because of the short distance
of the stroke, and the location of its point of contact, the
tone is soft and lovely. Highly responsive to the player's
touch, the clavichord allows for variation in dynamics (soft
and loud) within its narrow range. Because the tangents remain
in contact with the string while it is still vibrating--unlike
the hammer of a piano--the instrument is capable of vibrato
effects (rapid and minute fluctuation in pitch).
The clavichord was developed in the late 14th century by adding
a key mechanism to the polychordal monochord, an instrument
with one or more strings that produces different pitches by
the use of a movable bridge. After the Renaissance, Germany
became the center for building and refining the clavichord.
Here, larger instruments were built that were prized by Johann
Sebastian Bach, his sons, and their contemporaries. The clavichord
was replaced in the 18th century by the more versatile PIANO.
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