Virginals

Missing Infobox musical instrument / Maintenance / sound parameters example: template

The Virginal (according virga: hank, branch, rod ) is a small design of the harpsichord, in which the strings run parallel to the keyboard. It belongs to the Kiel instruments in which the strings of keels ( plectrum ) are plucked on a served by the keyboard mechanics. Virginale are typically rectangular, einmanualig and einchörig. They occur both in table form ( permanently attached legs) or in box - form ( not mounted legs).

History

The Virginal goes, as well as the spinet, the harpsichord and the clavichord, back to the 13th century emerging, provided with a keyboard Polychord and psaltery. The first indication of a Virginal but dates from the year 1460th virginals were especially popular in England and the Netherlands from the 16th to 18th centuries. Their form was a model for the emerging in the 18th century square pianos. Due to its small size and the low sound volume, virginals are particularly suitable for chamber music in small frame. The best-known composers of virginal are William Byrd, John Bull, Thomas Morley and John Dowland.

Method of construction

A Virginal has two " -sounding lands ", both of which lie on the soundboard, which has a warm sound character grundtönigen result. The crack initiation point of the string is shifted more to the center. In contrast, only a ridge lies with the spinet on the soundboard, the other is located on the soundpost.

Due to the attachments of the keyboard to the instrument is set, at which point the plucked strings. For most instruments, the keyboard is on the left. The strings are, therefore, similar to the harpsichord and spinet, torn near the end. These instruments are called virginals in the proper sense.

The Muselaar - Virginal is an instrument in which the keyboard is attached on the right side. Since the strings are a Muselaars touched approximately in the center of the sound is very excellent fundamentals, i.e., with only a small proportion of harmonics or overtones. The strings vibrate in the middle also most, which Muselaare are susceptible to noise and fast game is problematic. Muselaare often have a so-called Arpichordium register. Pull in the register small metal hooks are placed in the vicinity of the bass strings. When you swing the strings strike the hook, making a rasping sound is produced. The name of this tab comes from the use of similar devices at historic harps (so-called bray pins ).

There are also Virginale with polygonal instead of rectangular design.