Disposition (harpsichord)
Encyclopedia
The disposition of a harpsichord
is the set of choirs of strings it contains. This article describes various dispositions and gives the standard notation for describing them.
If a harpsichord contains just one set of strings at normal concert pitch, its disposition is called 1 x 8' . Here, the 8' means eight foot pitch
, which designates normal pitch.
Harpsichord makers sometimes produced ottavini, which were little harpsichords that sounded one octave
above normal pitch. The disposition of an ottavino would be called 1 x 4' , meaning it has one set of strings at four foot pitch
.
More substantial harpsichords contain more than one choir of strings. Their dispositions are described as above, using digits to count each type of choir. Thus, for example, many historical Italian harpsichords had the disposition 2 x 8'. The harpsichords of the celebrated French makers of the 18th century, such as Pascal Taskin
, were more often 2 x 8', 1 x 4' (the 4' choir sounded simultaneously with one or both of the 8' choirs, combining to produce a sound with 8' pitch, but an edgier tone quality). German makers occasionally included a 16-foot choir (one octave lower), which combined auditorily with the 8-foot choirs to produce a deep, sonorous tone; thus an instrument built 1710 by the German builder J. A. Hass
had the disposition 1 x 16', 2 x 8', 1 x 4'..
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
is the set of choirs of strings it contains. This article describes various dispositions and gives the standard notation for describing them.
If a harpsichord contains just one set of strings at normal concert pitch, its disposition is called 1 x 8
Eight foot pitch
Eight-foot pitch is a term common to the organ and the harpsichord. An organ pipe, or a harpsichord string, designated as eight-foot pitch is sounded at standard, ordinary pitch...
, which designates normal pitch.
Harpsichord makers sometimes produced ottavini, which were little harpsichords that sounded one octave
Octave
In music, an octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another with half or double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been referred to as the "basic miracle of music", the use of which is "common in most musical systems"...
above normal pitch. The disposition of an ottavino would be called 1 x 4
Eight foot pitch
Eight-foot pitch is a term common to the organ and the harpsichord. An organ pipe, or a harpsichord string, designated as eight-foot pitch is sounded at standard, ordinary pitch...
.
More substantial harpsichords contain more than one choir of strings. Their dispositions are described as above, using digits to count each type of choir. Thus, for example, many historical Italian harpsichords had the disposition 2 x 8'. The harpsichords of the celebrated French makers of the 18th century, such as Pascal Taskin
Pascal Taskin
----Pascal Joseph Taskin was a French harpsichord and piano maker. Born in Theux, near Liège, he lived most of his life in Paris.- Biography :...
, were more often 2 x 8', 1 x 4' (the 4' choir sounded simultaneously with one or both of the 8' choirs, combining to produce a sound with 8' pitch, but an edgier tone quality). German makers occasionally included a 16-foot choir (one octave lower), which combined auditorily with the 8-foot choirs to produce a deep, sonorous tone; thus an instrument built 1710 by the German builder J. A. Hass
Johann Adolph Hass
Johann Adolph Rudolph Hass was a German clavichord and harpsichord maker, the son of Hieronymus Albrecht Hass, who was also a clavier maker...
had the disposition 1 x 16', 2 x 8', 1 x 4'..