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Chapitre D'ouvrage Année : 2011

The acoustics of tangent−string interaction in the clavichord compared to hammer−string interaction in the fortepiano

Résumé

The clavichord and square fortepiano share many features in common: square shape, similar dimensions and construction principles. However, their sounds are markedly different in volume, dynamics and quality. In the first part the main acoustic features of the clavichord are reviewed (spectral richness, effect of key velocity, sound level, intonation variation with sound intensity). In the second part the fortepiano’s sound features are reviewed along the same lines. The main differences between fortepiano and clavichord sound and playability can be explained by the difference in hammer and tangent velocities due to the different action of both instruments, the string tension control in the clavichord (vs. the free string in the fortepiano) and the effect of hammerhead compression in the fortepiano (vs. the hard tangent in the clavichord). With hard and lightweight hammers, the pianoforte sound resembles that of the clavichord, but with more loudness, no intonation control and no tone colour control. Many such instruments existed, such as the tangent piano (Tangentenflügel).
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Dates et versions

hal-01712519 , version 1 (19-02-2018)

Identifiants

  • HAL Id : hal-01712519 , version 1

Citer

Christophe d'Alessandro. The acoustics of tangent−string interaction in the clavichord compared to hammer−string interaction in the fortepiano. De Clavicordio, XI, Musica Antica à Magnano, pp.83-90, 2011, 9788890026959. ⟨hal-01712519⟩
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