Relating to or characteristic of a harpsichord; resembling the sound or style of a harpsichord.
From harpsichord (from Italian arpicordo, from arpare 'to play the harp' plus corda 'string') plus the adjective suffix -al (from Latin -alis). The term describes qualities associated with the harpsichord.
The harpsichord produces its plucked-string sound through a completely different mechanism than a piano—a key triggers a plectrum that plucks the string rather than a hammer striking it, which is why harpsichord music sounds so distinctly bright and percussive compared to pianos.
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