An old keyboard instrument that plucks strings when you press the keys, creating a bright, tinkling sound popular in medieval and Renaissance music.
From Italian 'arpicordo,' combining 'arpa' (harp) and 'corda' (string). The instrument was invented around the 14th century as a way to mechanize the harp's plucking action through a keyboard.
Unlike pianos where volume varies with key pressure, harpsichords pluck with the same force every time—so composers like Bach had to get creative with rhythm and patterns to express emotion, fundamentally changing how music was written.
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