Keyboard Insturments in the 18th Century

Harpsichord¹

The harpsichord was the most popular of the early keyboard instruments. The strings² were made of metal and plucked with quills³. The metallic⁴ sound was not pleasing to musicians’ ears, but Mozart figured out a way to make music sound more beautiful on the harpsichord.

Clavichord⁵

The clavichord was basically a simpler and smaller version of harpsichord that people played at home.

Fortepiano

The name means “loud-soft.” Its strings are struck by a covered hammer so the sound can be loud or soft. The fortepiano sounded much more pleasing to musicians and composers than the harpsichord. It also was the first instrument with levers that were worked by the feet. This, too, produced a richer sound.

Spinet⁶

The spinet was a tabletop version of the harpsichord with fewer octaves and the same quality of sound.

Organ

The organ usually has two keyboards and pedals which play extra notes. Most music written for the organ is for church services. The huge sound is produced by air moving through pipes of different lengths.

1 harpsichord   

n.键琴（钢琴前身）

参考例句：

• I can tune the harpsichord as well as play it.我会弹奏大键琴，同样地，我也会给大键琴调音。
• Harpsichord music is readily playable.古钢琴音乐可以随时演奏。

2 strings   

n.弦

参考例句：

• He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上，随意地拨着吉他的弦。
• She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。

3 quills   

n.（刺猬或豪猪的）刺( quill的名词复数 )；羽毛管；翮；纡管

参考例句：

• Quills were the chief writing implement from the 6th century AD until the advent of steel pens in the mid 19th century. 从公元6世纪到19世纪中期钢笔出现以前，羽毛笔是主要的书写工具。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Defensive quills dot the backs of these troublesome creatures. 防御性的刺长在这些讨人厌的生物背上。 来自互联网

4 metallic   

adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的

参考例句：

• A sharp metallic note coming from the outside frightened me.外面传来尖锐铿锵的声音吓了我一跳。
• He picked up a metallic ring last night.昨夜他捡了一个金属戒指。

5 clavichord   

n.（敲弦）古钢琴

参考例句：

• Our clavichord is kept in the living room.我们的击弦古钢琴是放在起居室里的。
• The clavichord which my grandfather bought years ago was damaged.我祖父多年前买的古钢琴被损坏了。

6 spinet   

n.小型立式钢琴

参考例句：

• One afternoon,when I was better,I played the spinet.有天下午，我好了一点时，便弹奏钢琴。
• The spinet was too big for me to play.钢琴太大了不适合我弹。