Clavichord
The clavichord (also clavichord ) is a keyboard instrument from the family of chordophones. The range of the clavichord was initially two and a half to three octaves, since the mid-16th century, about four in the late period of five octaves or more.
Sound generation
The sound engine is based on that string ( 3) by means of so-called tangents ( 1A/1B ) are struck and divided. The tangents, narrow metal plate or the top flat forged metal bars, sit directly on the rear ends of two-arm buttons ( 2A/2B ). If a key (A / B) struck, the tangent meets the associated string at a specific point and takes a double function:
For one, they excited by their stop the string and bring them to vibrate. Second, it assumes the function of a web which usually left, limits the sounding length of the string in one direction. In the other direction (usually right), a fixed bridge (5 ) limits the length of the string, which is also responsible for the transmission of vibration to the soundboard (4).
For the second, the left tangent lying part of the string resonates not, this is dampened with braided by the strings of felt or cloth strips (6).
The ailing tone sounds exactly as long as the button is pressed, that bears the tangent to the string. When the button is released, the tangent loose again from the string; the sounding and the notes be dead with a felt strip portion of the string to fall back together without separation and the damping effect occurs.
History
The clavichord is one of the oldest stringed keyboard instruments and walked out of the monochord, a measurement and demonstration tool of antiquity. When a monochord the sounding length compartment forming web is attached to each different points of the string to generate different tones on one string. The clavichord takes up this idea and, however, connects the mobile webs ( here: the tangents ) with buttons at the same time increase the number of strings.
The name " clavichord " was first used in 1396 demonstrated. The oldest surviving clavichord, built in 1543 by Domenicus Pisaurensis, is now in the Museum of Musical Instruments in Leipzig. Significant Clavichordbauer were about Johann Adolph Hass in Hamburg, Gottfried Silbermann to call in Freiberg (Saxony ) or Christian Gottlob Hubert in Ansbach only three.
The clavichord played since its development, but especially in the 17th and 18th centuries an important role in home music that is comparable with that of today's piano. Evidence of this is the use of the term " Clavier ", which is often referred to the 19th century, a clavichord. The clavichord was cheaper than other keyboard instruments, due to its construction and was thus as Übeinstrument widespread. Until the end of the 18th century, the instrument almost throughout Europe was widespread. With the beginning of the beginning of the 19th century tendency to gain sonic the clavichord came slowly out of fashion. At the beginning of the 20th century and in the context of the burgeoning interest in historical instruments has its special charm which is located in a highly sensitive design possibilities of sound, rediscovered. However Clavichords from this period do not socialize often follow the Clavichordbautradition of the late 18th century: they are oriented with respect to the design of the sound system (such as the scale length ) and the variety rather on modern harpsichord their time and integrate techniques of modern piano manufacturing. In general, the instruments are unfretted, but not infrequently strung only einchörig. In more recent times, such as from 1990, found in Clavichordbau instead a return to historical methods of construction that continues today.
Building-specific variants
In clavichords one distinguishes two basic types: the bound and the free Clavichords bunch. For bound clavichords use 2 to 4 adjacent keys (A or B) the same string, or the same pair of strings ( 3) for sound generation. The tangents meet this string (or this pair of strings ) in various places: Press (A) suggests the person sitting on it ( Fig. 2A) tangent ( 1A ) at a point of the string, which is closer to the fixed web (5), as it the tangent (1B ) in connection with button (B) and rocker ( 2B). The by the tangent (1A ) partitioned shorter string length here results in a higher pitch than the longer partitioned (Figure 1B).
This idea comes from the monochord. The location resulting savings in strings is connected with further advantages: Fewer strings also mean less effort when tuning the instrument and less static load on the overall design, making the instrument lighter and " resonant " can be built. This is offset by the disadvantage that the sounds of a bond can not be played simultaneously. Therefore only directly adjacent semitones are often bound to be sounded almost never the same in the music of the time.
Free Bund instruments have for each key a string or a pair of strings at Doppelchörigkeit (see below). This type occurs in the late 17th century for the first time in appearance and is also widely especially in the late phase of the clavichord from around 1750th The older design of the bound instrument but they could never displace.
In order to allow the instruments to a greater " colors" historical clavichord were built doppelchörig usually: Instead of a string pairs of strings were used. A tangent produces the same sound on two closely spaced strings. For large instruments from about 1750 can draw near even a third, tuned in octaves in the bass string. For at clavichords of the 20th century often found on such einchörige stringing however, there are few historical examples.
Musical practice
The tone of the clavichord is relatively quiet, much quieter than the modern piano, but very good modulation. The low volume has two main reasons: First, the momentum of the tangent to the string or the string pair because of the clavichordtypischen lever and mass ratios is relatively weak, on the other hand he finds exactly in a vibration node instead, namely at the end of the vibrating length. The strings are only weakly excited. The clavichord allowed to a limited extent subtle dynamic gradations. In this respect, and because of its striking mechanism, it is considered a forerunner of the pianoforte. Finest articulatory gradations can be realized on the clavichord. However, it tends to be less suitable for Oktavgänge, big jumps, virtuoso runs and fast repeated chords.
As the only mechanical keyboard instrument the clavichord offers the possibility of Tonbeeinflussung even after the beating, for example, by the " vibrato ", a periodic change in pressure on the button, creating a vibrato on the strings of similar effect. Precisely because of the comparatively direct contact of the player for sounding string ( via key and tangent ), which persists throughout the duration of a sound, the clavichord requires a very precise technique: The player has its stop precisely control during each sounding tone to no unwanted effects produce.
Music for clavichord and important composers
Most of the keyboard music from the Middle Ages to the early classical period may be reproduced in style on the clavichord. In most cases, the composers of these eras do not write explicitly before, which keyboard instrument is to be used for the representation of a composition. This also applies to Johann Sebastian Bach's large study works such as the Inventions and Sinfonias or the Preludes and Fugues of the Well-Tempered Clavier.
The work of Johann Jakob Froberger is mostly due to a bound clavichord in the disposition C / Ec playable with short broken octave, so it belongs to the most important Baroque game inventory of Clavichordspieler. One of the most important composers of the early classical period for clavichord was Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. Even Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had Clavichords and used it as a travel instruments and to compose. Ludwig van Beethoven also came through the sonatas of his teacher, Christian Gottlob Neefe, nor with the clavichord in touch.
Significant virtuoso
Due to the same literature often the clavichord is also played by harpsichordist. Nevertheless, the clavichord demanded due to its tone according to its own playing technique.
- List of harpsichord