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harpsichord
This instrument produces a bright, metallic, and thin timbre because the strings are plucked. It lacks the dynamic range of a piano, meaning the player cannot change the volume of a note by pressing the key harder or softer. It is most strongly associated with the Baroque era and the music of Bach or Handel. In modern contexts, it often evokes a sense of historical formality, royal courts, or an antique, scholarly atmosphere.
Used to refer to the physical musical instrument found in a museum or concert hall.
Meanings
A keyboard instrument where strings are plucked by a plectrum rather than struck by hammers.
"The musician played a Baroque piece on the harpsichord."