Harpsichord vs Piano: How Different Are They Really?

[@harpsichord]

Thanks so much for watching! What else do you want to know about the harpsichord? Leave me a comment to let me know! Oh, and at 0:24 I totally meant to say "the harpsichord is older than the piano" instead of the other way around. Whoops!

[@erlingwalter5888]

hello! thanks for the video, i would love to have a harpsichord, but i only hear that cost 25k of dollars, i´m from mexico city, any idea where can i find someting available in terms of money; where are you yamaha when we need you!! jajajaja

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Yeah I noticed that too. BTW There are touch sensative Harpsichords & Pedal Harpsichords which allow you to play Organ pieces on a Piano.

[@johnrothfield6126]

More demonstrations of good touch on harpsichord as opposed to bad touch

[@justinkashtock333]

When you were demonstrating the "on the string" play style, I noticed that when the plectrum came back to it's resting position, it created a harmonic. Are the plectrums placed at a harmonic position on every string, or just some of them? And if it's on every string, is this intentional so as to affect the overall sound of the harpsichord by increasing the amount of harmonic resonance, or is there potentially some other reason behind it such as increasing the amount of time the string will continue to vibrate regardless of the harmonic tones? Thank you for the video, as it answered the primary question I had sought when I began my search today!

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

When you said "the piano is older than the harpsichord", I thought you were going to mention the unsuccessful Medieval attempt to invent a keyboard hammered dulcimer preceding the actual piano by a few centuries and set in at least the dawn time of the harpsichord and clavichord.

[@erikkrabbenbos4347]

"The piano is older than... Wait... Where's my coffee..." 😅

[@user-bl2zq4mb1t]

😂

[@HarryHound]

Interesting, thanQ

[@Talltrees84]

Do one comparing the HC, the piano and the organ. All keyboard instruments but different. One percussion (piano), another plucked (HC) and another wind based (organ).

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

There's actually a Velocity sensitive Harpsichord which has a slightly modified action and quite recently Stuart and Sons made a 108 Key Piano with a Full 9 Octave range

[@justinnaramor6050]

How would a harpsichord be velocity sensitive? I do not play plucked string instruments, but it is my understanding that dynamics on plucked strings are controlled more so by how far the string is displaced from its rest position than how fast it is plucked. It is precisely for this reason that harpsichords have very little dynamic range. For true dynamics on harpsichord, you'd have to have a way to control how far the string is displaced from its rest position, but how? How would you control that just by pushing down the keys faster or slower? If it was done via a pedal mechanism or something, where you control the proximity between the jack and strings for instance, I could maybe see that working, but controlling that via the keyboard alone? Hmm...

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@justinnaramor6050 A Pedal Mechanism which is like the Volume Pedal on a Hammond

[@justinnaramor6050]

@@RockStarOscarStern634 Right, that was precisely what I was thinking when I mentioned a pedal mechanism. But that's a pedal... that's not a matter of controlling dynamics directly from the keyboard. When you said "velocity sensitive" harpsichord I figured you meant something that directly uses the keyboard to control dynamics.

[@hummit]

Thanks for a great video! I didn't know that the harpsicord plucks strings until today!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

You know the Baldwin Company made an Electric Harpsichord, it's a Single Manual Single 8 ft Rank Harpsichord with Pickups above the strings. The model is CW80 and the amplifier it plugs into has a Double Volume Pedal system so you can actually controll the Dynamics like you would on an Organ.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

I did find Realized Continuo parts of Corelli's 12 Violin Sonatas done by another composer named Antonio Tonelli.

[@brucetepke8150]

What instrument would you suggest for someone who wants to play harpsichord but doesn't (yet) have access to one? Is starting on a piano counterproductive? Would a synthesizer keyboard be a better choice?

[@maryerb6062]

This is very interesting and I had no idea! By all means share your learning!

[@epicsmiley3598]

1000th subs good job

[@memyopinionsche6610]

With all the movies based on the history on classic composers like Mozart. I've always noticed that the piano they were playing on sounding more different than a regular piano. I would say sounding more higher pitched? If that's the term I have to use. But sounding way more different. And also notice the harpsichord piano the little smaller. than a regular piano. So I guess the strings are plucked then hit. I guess that's why they sound different. I never knew.

[@gooseface2690]

LOL for that first line! 😅😋

[@TheBinaryWolf]

Thanks for the excellent explanation. When I write for harpsichord, I have an innate desire to add accents and staccato marks because my primary instrument is flamenco and classical guitar; so I refrain...unless I feature the instrument, and the orchestra enters a soft accompaniment section or tacets. I also exhibit my bias by writing in the lower mid-range as it renders a richer, guitar like tone.

[@scottcook2568]

Listened to love is blue 1968 to be introduced to harpsichord watch ed sullivan love is blue 1968 its great

[@NurseDavis]

Do you have any opinions on playing bach on harpsichord vs piano? Or clavichord or organ?

[@cutchmaster]

Excellent video. Great info and demonstrations. Thank you.

[@danielj9042]

When you introduced the sound of the harpsichord did you improvise or was that a short snippet of a piece? If it was a piece, could you tell me what that was?

[@manfredholt7329]

Suite in E minor, HWV 438, III. Jigg (by Handel): kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5umfnaCoad-adk

[@danielj9042]

@@manfredholt7329 Oh, sorry. I meant when she starts playing at 2:14. Thanks for responding 😀

[@manfredholt7329]

@@danielj9042 Haha, sorry, I really don't know what she played then. Sounds like early Baroque.

[@danielj9042]

@@manfredholt7329 lol well, maybe she will tell us at some point 🥰

[@erikkrabbenbos4347]

Sounds like a Renaissance piece, but which of the countless pieces out there it could be...? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@darrenserra316]

did i hear correctly? at :24, you said, "the piano is older than the harpsicord"....

[@harpsichord]

That is indeed what I said, but it is (of course) an error that I somehow didn't catch when I was editing the video! :) I tried to have a card come up on the screen at that time correcting the error, and I also mentioned it in my pinned comment, but it's still forever in the video, haha!

[@user-lh3uz1cp7y]

If the harpsichord didn't die before it could evolve beyond a period instrument, how different would it really be beyond having a different action that could be changed to have both instruments in one? If the piano was the one to die, pianos today could be the same as over 200 years ago while harpsichords have the modernisation of today's pianos. I think a lot of the differences are down to the harpsichord not evolving with not many more evolved ones existing while larger concert halls demanded louder pianos that came at a cost to an instrument that sounds beautiful being optimised to be loud over everything else.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

There are Pedal Harpsichords and Pedal Pianos too which can play Piano Music, Harpsichord Music, Organ Music, you name it.

[@Browncoat03-K64]

Thank you for this informational video! It's great for homeschool.

[@marioalgandona9132]

Thanks for the video.

[@harpsichord]

Thank you for watching!

[@JeanDistefano-i2e]

Thank you!

[@arsmelancholiae]

I like the sound of your harpsichord. What is the difference between the sound of a big harpsichord, a virginal and a spinet? Which one would you recommend for people who can't buy a big harpsichord?

[@manfredholt7329]

Very informative video! I am a pianist considering getting a harpsichord as I play almost only Baroque music. How is the touch of a harpsichord vs a piano? Is it easier to play than a piano since it can't produce dynamics? Also, what was the harpsichord piece in the introduction?

[@titorosado6198]

Hi, harpsichord student here. About your first question: there are differences in touch between both instruments. The principal difference resides in the strength necessary to play. The harpsichord has a lighter and shallower action than the piano, meaning that only the strength of the fingers is used to play the keys (keep in mind that some harpsichords have a much heavier action than others, so you might need the strength of your hands in some situations). If you play the harpsichord with the strength you regularly use on a piano, not only the notes will sound harsh, but you will also hear an annoying percussive sound that is a result from the jacks hitting the upper rail. Also, having your hands and arms relaxed makes playing fast easier. About your second question: I believe it is certainly easier to produce a "good" sound on the harpsichord since you don't have to worry about the dynamics. On the other hand, playing expressively is harder, as you will have to know how to manage without dynamics. This is, in my opinion, the biggest difficulty in harpsichord playing and also the reason why many pianists find the harpsichord a boring instrument to play (they think the harpsichord is an expressionless and easier to play instrument, without realizing that the difficulty of the harpsichord resides in using subtle playing nuances to produce expression). My advice here is to find a teacher AND listen to professional harpsichordists (my favorite ones are Ketil Haugsand, Scott Ross and Jean Rondeau). Unfortunately, I don't know the answer to your third question. You probably already know this, but if you want to get a harpsichord you should learn how to tune (it's much easier than to tune a piano, don't worry) Best of luck with your harpsichord journey, I hope this was helpful :)

[@manfredholt7329]

@@titorosado6198 Thanks for your reply! Interesting to know about the nuances for a harpsichord; I can recall some techniques from recordings. Playing expressively is difficult on the harpsichord. And yes, I was aware that all harpsichordists have to tune their harpsichords constantly as the harpsichord has a wooden frame, rather than a metal frame that pianos have. Unfortunately, there are no harpsichord teachers in my area, but I'll keep an eye out in the future. Thanks for the recommendations. My favorite harpsichordists are Kenneth Gilbert and Scott Ross. Also, I found the piece in the introduction, Suite in E minor, HWV 438, III. Jigg (by Handel): kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5umfnaCoad-adk Thanks for your kind and helpful words.

[@titorosado6198]

@@manfredholt7329 You're welcome, glad I could help! I'm sorry to hear that there are no teachers in your area. The name Kenneth Gilbert rings a bell but I think I never heard a recording by him. I'll check him out. And thanks for indicating the piece in the introduction!

[@manfredholt7329]

@@titorosado6198 No problem. Have fun listening to Kenneth Gilbert!

[@-dimitris]

Check out this channel : John Moraitis He was a pianist who switched to harpsichord. He explains many advanced things, but you'll get an idea of the baroque harpsichord performance.

[@jftsang]

Are there any digital keyboards that you would recommend? It's a pity that the C30 isn't in stock anymore. Or is practising on a digital keyboard just a bad idea? I want to learn harpsichord but I don't want to pick up bad technique, especially as I'm coming from piano.

[@titorosado6198]

On a basic level, a keyboard with no dynamic response light action (one that only requires the strength of the fingers to depress the keys) is fine. If you want to dive deep, it is better to have a an acoustic instrument. It is fine if you change from an electronic to an acoustic instrument after some years of playing and if you are on a tight budget you might want to buy a spinet or a virginal (they are still expensive but less expensive than a harpsichord)

[@willemvandernest3249]

He Harpsichord sounds so pure in contrast with the piano

[@MrMalvolio29]

The harpsichord is, simply, a “”LESS EXPRESSIVE”” instrument without the obviously superior affective range of the piano, *even* of that of the early pianoforte, or fortepiano (depending on one’s preference). One can hit a note harder or softer on a piano, and expect a correspondingly harder and longer-lasting or softer and briefer tone. On a harpsichord, it generally does not matter how hard or soft one’s depressing of the key is; since a string is being plucked, it makes the same tone regardless of the force applied to depressing of the key. This is actually *why* the first pianos (which had only 58-60 keys, like the harpsichord, encompassing 5 octaves of 12 notes each)--were called either “pianofortes” (meaning “softs and forceful note possibilities”) OR fortepianos (meaning “forceful note and soft-note possibilities”---from Italian *piano”= soft; and “forte” meaning “strong”); this name subtly suggested that the piano might indeed be an “evolutionary improvement” on the harpsichord; indeed, a pianoforte sounds louder and can play almost *any* harpsichord composition, whereas the obverse is certainly not true. Nevertheless, this “evolutionary” narrative * IS* false: the harpsichord and pianoforte shared merely a “housing;” their “actions”--mechanisms for producing sound--were unrelated, and each instrument had its place for a time. In fact the two instruments happily coexisted thru the Classical Era and up until the early Romantic Period.

[@marcodonati572]

So clearly explained and interesting. You just got another subscriber.😊

[@DarylSmith-zh7ig]

How many keys in the harpsichord

[@aus822]

Im thinking of buying a harpsichord one day but i don’t know where to buy it and how much

[@victoriasuchodolski]

Nice!

[@harpsichord]

Thanks so much, Victoria! And thanks for watching!

[@grantheron4595]

Is the virginal not a harpsichord?

[@Battlebot111]

I. Need facts on this for a last Second Project shitttttttttttt

[@caroliscaroles]

so cool

[@harpsichord]

Thanks!

[@netsaosa4973]

nice

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

I thought the Piano came after the Harpsichord

[@akshitsharma8475]

Piano came after the Harpsichord.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@akshitsharma8475 It actually did and Alice corrected it in the description

[@MrMalvolio29]

You began by saying that “the piano is older than the harpsichord, having been invented in the 15th century” (far older than *I* was taught the piano was) whereas, you said “the piano was invented in the early 18th century.” (?)

[@Poppykat9866]

Yeah, she just misspoke and didn't catch it

[@ericoreilly8368]

That lookslike a clavichord? Oh whoops its a virgonal

[@slapmyfunkybass]

Piano is older than the harpsichord???