The clavichord is a stringed rectangular keyboard instrument that was used largely in the Late Middle Ages , through the Renaissance , Baroque and Classical eras. Historically, it was mostly used as a practice instrument and as an aid to composition, not being loud enough for larger performances. The clavichord produces sound by striking brass or iron strings with small metal blades called tangents. Vibrations are transmitted through the bridge(s) to the soundboard.
75-549: The Clavinet is an electric clavichord invented by Ernst Zacharias and manufactured by the Hohner company of Trossingen , West Germany , from 1964 to 1982. The instrument produces sounds with rubber pads, each matching one of the keys and responding to a keystroke by striking a given point on a tensioned string, and was designed to resemble the Renaissance-era clavichord. Although originally intended for home use,
150-410: A high-pass filter , while "Medium" and "Soft" activate a low-pass filter . The two right switches are marked "AB" and "CD" and control which pickups are selected. On the right was a mechanical mute slider. The final E7 and Clavinet Duo models reflected several engineering improvements to make the instrument more suitable for loud stage use, including improved shielding to avoid electrical noise. The E7
225-529: A Clavinet include Steely Dan 's " Kid Charlemagne " and Fleetwood Mac 's " You Make Loving Fun ". Lachy Doley uses the Clavinet (with the Castle Bar modification, similar to a guitar's whammy bar ) as one of his main instruments. His YouTube videos showing him use the mod's tremolo arm have gone viral. He bought his first Clavinet second-hand aged 17 for $ 150; the modification had already been made at
300-551: A Clavinet on several songs, such as his own " Outa-Space " (1972) and the Rolling Stones ' " Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker) " (1973). Herbie Hancock featured the Clavinet prominently on the albums Head Hunters (1973) and Man-Child (1975), and both he and Chick Corea regularly played the instrument. The first reggae recording to feature the Clavinet was the Termites' "Attractive Girl" (1967). Bob Marley and
375-420: A Clavinet when playing with Frank Zappa and solo, using the Castle Bar modification. Peter Hammill used the Clavinet as his main keyboard instrument on Van der Graaf Generator 's Godbluff (1975). Led Zeppelin 's John Paul Jones played a Clavinet on " Trampled Under Foot ", as did Daryl Dragon on Captain & Tennille 's " Love Will Keep Us Together " (both 1975). Late seventies hit singles to feature
450-455: A Masonic Cantata, on this clavichord. Haydn composed the greater part of "The Creation", one of his masterpieces, on the clavichord. He used the clavichord to accompany the voice. Combo organ A combo organ, so-named and classified by popular culture due to its original intended use by small, touring jazz , pop and dance groups known as "combo bands", as well as some models having "Combo" as part of their brand or model names,
525-399: A Pianet keyboard. Seven different models of the Clavinet were produced from 1964 to 1982. Originally, Hohner intended the instrument for home use and for late Medieval, Baroque and early classical music. The changes reflected Hohner's transition from marketing as a home instrument to one that was practical to play on stage. Around 38,000 units were manufactured in total. The Clavinet I was
600-508: A comparable modern instrument. He joined Hohner in 1954, at a time when it was struggling with manufacturing after the company factories had been seized by the Nazis during World War II . Zacharias revitalised the company's product range, introducing the Cembalet and Pianet . He was particularly interested in producing an electric clavichord , and discovered that striking a hammer tip across
675-512: A few Hammond tonewheel combo models in 1969 & a Noble amplified reed combo organ in 1966, with fully digital beginning in 1974 and since becoming the predominant type. They have been made with one to three keyboards. Sounds, styles, and features vary greatly. Well-known combo organs include: The combo organ's greatest popularity was during the 1960s, when it was featured on hits by The Doors , The Animals , Iron Butterfly , Manfred Mann , Them , Strawberry Alarm Clock , and many others and it
750-433: A few models had two manuals of three or four octaves. A number of different pitches and tone-colours ("voices") were featured, often using rocker-switches, tabs or drawbars to function as "stops" to select them. Although the sounds may bear such names as "flute", "string" or "horn", they are not intended to sound like their orchestral namesakes - the nomenclature is borrowed from pipe organ tradition. Some instruments allow
825-404: A home model for Baroque music. Early advertisements from Hohner featured the instrument in such a setting. The Clavinet II had the same basic features as the Clavinet I, which replaced the built-in amplifier and speaker system with a preamplifier. It was the first model to support changing the instrument's tone via rocker switches. The Clavinet C was introduced in 1968. It has a slimmer case than
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#1732787317585900-675: A musical combo". A combo organ is an electronic portable organ, usually transistorized (although some older designs used tubes ; and later models, integrated circuits ), that was designed for use on stage, usually in the context of a band or group. A combo organ is usually supported on a removable or folding stand or legs; these originally would have been supplied as part of the instrument. Combo organs were best known for their bright, reedy sound; their portability; surprising versatility; and relatively low cost. Most such instruments have no built-in amplification. A typical combo organ has one manual ( keyboard ), covering four or five octaves, though
975-561: A piano and clavichord, along with aftertouch as the string is stretched. The end of each string farthest from the pick-ups passes through a weave of yarn, which damps the vibrating string after a key is released. Each string is tuned by a machine-head positioned along the front of the harp. This harp mechanism is different from the other Hohner keyboard instruments, the Cembalet and Pianet , which have pads plucking metal reeds . Most clavinets have two sets of pickups encased in epoxy in
1050-488: A plastic case, positioned above and below the strings. These are conceptually similar to a neck and bridge pickup on a guitar. The Clavinet has pickup selector switches, and a solid state preamplifier that allows a line level output to be fed to an amplifier. The volume of the preamplifier can be set by a control to the left of the keyboard. The Clavinet was designed by German engineer Ernst Zacharias . He grew up listening to Bach harpsichord music, which led him to design
1125-526: A popular combination of keyboards at the time. A number of D6-labeled instruments were made in the E7-style case and include D6 logos on the control panel and the removable tuning cover. These are known as D6-N models, the "N" denoting "new". The Clavinet Duo model was first produced in 1978. It combined a clavinet with the Hohner Pianet T in one compact, albeit heavy, instrument. A foot switch allows
1200-525: A reference to its quiet sound ( sordino usually designates a mute). The clavichord was invented in the early fourteenth century. In 1404, the German poem " Der Minne Regeln " mentions the terms clavicimbalum (a term used mainly for the harpsichord ) and clavichordium , designating them as the best instruments to accompany melodies. One of the earliest references to the clavichord in England occurs in
1275-538: A series of clavichord improvisations. The Beatles ' " For No One " (1966) features Paul McCartney playing the clavichord. Rick Wakeman plays the Clavinet in the track "The Battle" from the album Journey to the Centre of the Earth . In the clavichord, strings run transversely from the hitchpin rail at the left-hand end to tuning pegs on the right. Towards the right end they pass over a curved wooden bridge. The action
1350-406: A similar fashion to the hammering technique on a guitar. Unlike in a piano action, the tangent does not rebound from the string; rather, it stays in contact with the string as long as the key is held, acting as both the nut and as the initiator of sound. The volume of the note can be changed by striking harder or softer, and the pitch can also be affected by varying the force of the tangent against
1425-582: A similar model. In the 1980s and 1990s replacement parts for clavinets became harder to find, as Hohner had ceased to support them, and the price for second-hand models dropped. In 1999, Clavinet enthusiast Aaron Kipness established the website clavinet.com, and started manufacturing replacement hammer tips with his stepfather. The website quickly became popular with worldwide orders for replacement parts. Subsequently, Hohner asked Kipness if he would be interested in buying all remaining stock. The website encouraged other people to begin to manufacture spares, and there
1500-443: A six octave range. It was a preferred instrument in the 18th century due to its unique expressive features, size, elegance, and affordability. Due to its lower cost compared to other instruments, the clavichord was accessible, making it the first choice for individuals who wanted to learn the keyboard. Composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791), used to bring the clavichord with them on their travels to practice. During
1575-409: A smaller volume, even though many or most unfretted instruments tend to be significantly larger than fretted instruments; and many more strings to keep in tune. Unfretted instruments tend to have a sweeter, less incisive tone due to the greater load on the bridge resulting from the greater number of strings, though the large, late (early 19th century) Swedish clavichords tend to be the loudest of any of
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#17327873175851650-431: A spring to return it. Beneath each key, a metal holder grips a small rubber pad. Pressing a key forces the pad to fret the string like a hammer on on a guitar. An electro-magnetic pickup turns the string vibration into an electric current. The feel of a clavinet comes from the impact of the pad striking its anvil point against the string. This makes the keyboard weighted which allows a different volume for each note like
1725-515: A string mounted on an anvil allowed the player to hit the keys more forcefully and gain greater volume. He was interested in using metal keypads and plastic keys as an alternative to wooden frames and action that had been used on electric pianos such as the Wurlitzer . The first prototype model, the Claviphon, was manufactured in 1961. It used the string harp found on later production models, with
1800-429: A time on each string, the fretting pattern is generally chosen so that notes rarely heard together (such as C and C ♯ ) share a string pair. The advantages of this system compared with unfretted instruments (see below) include relative ease of tuning (with around half as many strings to keep in tune), greater volume (though still not really enough for use in chamber music ), and a clearer, more direct sound. Among
1875-454: Is a particularly popular setup when playing funk. Other suitable stomp boxes that can be used with a Clavinet include phaser or chorus . The early Clavinet I and II models were not designed for stage use, and would easily cause audio feedback if plugged into a loud amplifier. Later models such as the D6 resolved this issue with better string damping. The pickups are unshielded, which increases
1950-407: Is also a grass-roots industry of repairers who continue to maintain the instrument. The Clavinet is an electromechanical instrument that is usually used in conjunction with a keyboard amplifier . Most models have 60 keys ranging from F1 to E6. The sound is produced by a harp of 60 tensioned steel strings placed diagonally below the key surface. Each key pivots on a fulcrum point at the rear, with
2025-436: Is an electronic organ of the frequency divider type, generally produced between the early 1960s and the late 1970s. This type of organ predated, and contributed largely to, the development of modern synthesizers. The combo organ concept, at least in the context of mass-production, is thought to have arisen from popular demand, when smaller home organs were seen in music stores. Combo organs were probably originally developed in
2100-416: Is now a cottage industry around keeping the Clavinet in playing condition. In 2018, a Clavinet in pristine condition could sell for about $ 2,000. Though some musicians insist on using a real Clavinet, many modern keyboards provide a suitable emulation. The Nord Stage features the various pickup switch combinations, but not the mute slider. Ticky Clav 2 is a software emulation of the instrument, providing all
2175-422: Is often associated with funky , disco -infused 1970s rock. Guy Sigsworth has played clavichord in a modern setting with Björk , notably on the studio recording of " All Is Full of Love ". Björk also made extensive use of and even played the instrument herself on the song "My Juvenile" of her 2007 album Volta . Tori Amos uses the instrument on "Caught a Lite Sneeze" from the album Boys for Pele and on
2250-399: Is simple, with the keys being levers with a small brass tangent, a small piece of metal similar in shape and size to the head of a flat-bladed screwdriver, at the far end. The strings, which are usually of brass, or else a combination of brass and iron, are usually arranged in pairs, like a lute or mandolin. When the key is pressed, the tangent strikes the strings above, causing them to sound in
2325-406: Is speculation that some works written for organ may have been intended for pedal clavichord. An interesting case is made by Speerstra (2004) that Bach's "Eight Little Preludes and Fugues" , now thought spurious, may actually be authentic. The keyboard writing seems unsuited to organ, but Speerstra argues that they are idiomatic on the pedal clavichord. As Speerstra and Williams (2003) also note,
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2400-493: Is used in other European languages (It. clavicordio , clavicordo ; Fr. clavicorde ; Germ. Klavichord ; Lat. clavicordium ; Port. clavicórdio ; Sp. clavicordio ). Many languages also have another name derived from Latin manus , meaning "hand" (It. manicordo ; Fr. manicorde , manicordion ; Sp. manicordio , manucordio ). Other names refer to the monochord -like nature of a fully fretted clavichord (It. monacordo or monocordo ; Sp. monacordio ). Italian also used sordino ,
2475-471: The Iberian Peninsula in the latter part of this period. It had fallen out of use by 1850. In the late 1890s, Arnold Dolmetsch revived clavichord construction and Violet Gordon-Woodhouse , among others, helped to popularize the instrument. Although most of the instruments built before the 1730s were small (four octaves, four feet long), the latest instruments were built up to seven feet long with
2550-690: The United Kingdom , based on the Univox polyphonic version of the Clavioline , and some models included the inner-workings of Italian -made transistor accordions . They were the brainchild of necessity for portable organs of simple design, mainly for use in these small groups. Combo organs ended up having a major impact on the music scene of the mid- and late 1960s, particularly on rock and roll of that era. A combo organ could best be defined as "a portable electric organ designed to be used by
2625-666: The Vox Continental tends toward having somewhat of a Hammond -like, or " sine wave "-like sound (only thinner); while the Farfisa Combo Compact has an aggressive, raspy quality to some of its boosted tones, and the Gibson G-101 has a cleaner, contoured, more " sawtooth wave "-like tone, with harpsichord -like, percussive sound capabilities and a slight "after-jingle", with Sustain selected, on some voice settings. To collectors, players and enthusiasts,
2700-400: The Clavinet became popular on stage, and could be used to create electric guitar sounds on a keyboard. It is strongly associated with Stevie Wonder , who used the instrument extensively, particularly on his 1972 hit " Superstition ", and was regularly featured in rock , funk and reggae music throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Modern digital keyboards can emulate the Clavinet sound, but there
2775-455: The I or II, and is finished in red vinyl, which was popular with contemporary combo organs at the time. A removable black aluminium panel below the keys provides access to the tuning machines. The upper surface of the keyboard is finished in white, and a slot holds an acrylic panel music rest, with the Hohner logo. Four black tapered tubular steel legs are threaded into mounts on the underside of
2850-455: The Mozart family's visit to Augsburg, they had the chance to visit the outstanding German keyboard instruments maker, Johann Andreas Stein (1728–1792), and purchased a clavichord from him. In a letter to his friend, Leopold Mozart (1719–1787) described it as "A pretty little keyboard instrument, which does us good service for practicing on during our travels." Until electronic amplification in
2925-662: The United Kingdom or the United States. Organs that are intended to emulate the sound and characteristics of a Hammond organ are not generally regarded as combo organs; see clonewheel organ . -- They have been sold to the public from 1946 to present, beginning in Germany with Jorgensen Electronics then gradually spreading worldwide by the 1960s. Kinds of tone generation have included tube or transistor analog oscillators & dividers, mechanoelectrical sources such as
3000-530: The Wailers ' " Could You Be Loved " (1980) is driven by a Clavinet riff played by Earl Lindo , as is Wonder's Marley-influenced track " Master Blaster (Jammin') ", played by Wonder himself. The Band 's Garth Hudson played a Clavinet fed through a wah-wah pedal on " Up on Cripple Creek " (1969). Keith Emerson played the instrument on Emerson, Lake & Palmer 's cover of " Nut Rocker ", heard on 1971's Pictures at an Exhibition . George Duke regularly used
3075-501: The attractiveness of the pianoforte and in addition features the vibrato (Bebung) and portato (Tragen der Töne) which I produce by means of added pressure after each stroke. It is at the clavichord that a keyboard player may be most exactly evaluated." Among recent clavichord recordings, those by Christopher Hogwood ( The Secret Bach , The Secret Handel , and The Secret Mozart ), break new ground. In his liner notes, Hogwood pointed out that these composers would typically have played
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3150-410: The brand name for electronic and digital keyboards. The "Clavinet DP" was applied to a range of digital pianos . Though Zacharias approved of the instrument, they were designed for the home market, and made no attempt to emulate the original. The Castle Bar is an aftermarket device invented by Buddy Castle in the mid-1970s that connects the strings to a rotating bridge, which is fixed to a rod on top of
3225-494: The case. The legs fit into a box section under the top surface for transport. A removable transport lid fastens over the keyboard and controls. As well as mains power, the instrument could be driven off a 9V battery. A rare variant of the C, known as the Echolette Beat Spinett featured reverse-colour keys like a traditional harpsichord, and an integrated ashtray . The clavinet L was also introduced in 1968. This
3300-508: The clavichord in the privacy of their homes. In England, the composer Herbert Howells (1892–1983) wrote two significant collections of pieces for clavichord ( Lambert 's Clavichord and Howells' Clavichord ), and Stephen Dodgson (1924–2013) wrote two clavichord suites. In a note written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's wife, Constanze Mozart (1761–1842), found inside Mozart's clavichord, it is mentioned that Mozart composed his works, including The Magic Flute, La Clemenza di Tito, The Requiem, and
3375-500: The clavinet on Bill Oddie 's song " The Funky Gibbon " performed by The Goodies . Oddie recalled that MacRae's playing had a "very Stevie Wonder-type feel to it ... And then I literally started whacking the top of the grand piano. So the actual rhythm-track of 'The Funky Gibbon' has only got me and Dave on it." The Clavinet was used in funk music, often played through a wah-wah pedal. It can be heard on Bill Withers ' " Use Me " and Funkadelic 's "A Joyful Process". Billy Preston used
3450-493: The compass of the keyboard parts of Bach's six trio sonatas for organ (BWV 525–530) rarely go below the tenor C, so they could have been played on a single manual pedal clavichord, by moving the left hand down an octave, a customary practice in the 18th century. Much of the musical repertoire written for harpsichord and organ from the period circa 1400–1800 can be played on the clavichord; however, it does not have enough (unamplified) volume to participate in chamber music, with
3525-427: The disadvantages: temperament could not be re-set without bending the tangents; and playing required a further refinement of touch, since notes sharing a single string played in quick succession had to be slightly separated to avoid a disagreeable deadening of the sound, potentially disturbing a legato line. Some clavichords have been built with a single pair of strings for each note. The first known reference to one
3600-436: The features found on the original boards. The Clavinet is strongly associated with Stevie Wonder , particularly his 1972 number-one hit " Superstition ", where it provides the main riff and accompaniment to the song. The track features multiple Clavinet C overdubs, and requires Wonder and another keyboardist to play on two Clavinets simultaneously to recreate the arrangement in live performances. Wonder began to use Clavinets in
3675-436: The first model to be introduced in 1964. It is housed in a heavy brown teak veneer box with a bronze front panel stating the model number, covering the tuning pegs on the front. The panel can be removed with two thumb screws in order to tune the instrument with a rectangular case profile. A lockable lid can be folded over the keyboard when the instrument is not being played. The instrument is supported by four wooden legs fitted to
3750-414: The harpsichord and the clavichord. The former is used mainly in louder music, the latter alone. The more recent pianofortes, when they are durable and well built, have many advantages, although their touch must be carefully worked out, a task which is not without difficulties. They sound well by themselves and in small ensembles. Yet, I hold that a good clavichord, except for its weaker tone, shares equally in
3825-400: The historic clavichords. While clavichords were typically single manual instruments, they could be stacked, one clavichord on top of another, to provide multiple keyboards. With the addition of a pedal clavichord , which included a pedal keyboard for the lower notes, a clavichord could be used to practice organ repertoire. Most often, the addition of a pedal keyboard only involved connecting
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#17327873175853900-425: The instrument. This makes it possible to bend the pitch , in a similar manner to a tremolo arm on a guitar, by pressing the rod. The Clavinet can then be used in a very different manner, and it makes it a suitable lead instrument. There are upgraded reissues of the device available which are more reliable than the original. The Clavinet is often played through a wah wah pedal or fed through an auto wah box. This
3975-601: The keyboard to be split, the lowest octave or two producing a pedal-like bass tone. Most combo organs offer vibrato as a special effect; a few feature more unusual effects such as "repeat percussion" ( tremolo ), "slalom" ( pitch bend ) or wah-wah . A volume pedal is normally used to vary the volume while playing. Less frequently an optional set of bass pedals could be attached. Soundwise, combo organs are very similar to each other, although there are definite discernible tonal characteristics that differ between models that might be considered "default" for each model. For instance,
4050-437: The keys of the pedalboard to the lower notes on the manual clavichord using string so the lower notes on the manual instrument could be operated by the feet. In the era of pipe organs , which used man-powered bellows that required several people to operate, and of churches only heated during church services if at all, organists used pedal harpsichords and pedal clavichords as practice instruments (see also: pedal piano ). There
4125-421: The late 1960s, when he was looking for a keyboard that could play guitar-like sounds. He first used it on " Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day " (1968). As well as "Superstition", other tracks such as " Higher Ground " are led by the Clavinet played through a Mu-Tron III filter pedal, and the album Talking Book makes prominent use of the instrument. The track "Sweet Little Girl" (on 1972's Music of My Mind ) features
4200-439: The leading representatives of the 'Empfindsamer stil' or 'Sensitive Style,' emphasized emotional depth and expressiveness in his compositions. The clavichord was very successful in conveying these characteristics. With its unique sound, touch sensitivity, and ability to convey the most delicate nuances, the clavichord became C. P. E. Bach's most preferred instrument. C. P. E. Bach also used the fortepiano in his compositions, but he
4275-430: The likelihood of picking up interference from nearby lights, switches and transformers. Over time, the rubber hammer tips deteriorated, resulting in the key no longer functioning properly. The strings can last longer than those on a guitar, as they are sealed instruments and not prone to oil and sweat from fingers. The keys are not the same as any other Hohner instrument, and replacement is only possible by taking them from
4350-499: The line "You know your baby loves you, more than I love my Clavinet". By the 1970s, Hohner began to use photos of Wonder in their advertising. He has continued to record and tour with the Clavinet into the 21st century, and has several models. His main stage instrument is a customised D6 with modified preamps and high-quality film capacitors. The D6 is powered by a 9V battery instead of mains power, as it avoids ground loops and associated noise. In 1975, keyboardist Dave MacRae played
4425-425: The main body by threaded knobs, and secured with a crossbar brace. There is a built-in battery-powered speaker and amplifier, but there also the option to use an external amplifier via a jack socket. The only controls on the Clavinet I are volume and two tablet switches that selected a relevant combination of pickups. A bent rod music stand pegs into two holes on the upper surface. This model was designed and marketed as
4500-709: The player to switch between clavinet, pianet, or a mixture or the two. There is also a "split keyboard" mode that allows either instrument to be used in a particular range of notes. There is a stereo output jack, that allows either a mix of the two sounds or each individual sound on one half of the stereo channel. It used a black case in the style of a Clavinet E7. By the time the E7 and Clavinet Duo were being produced, polyphonic synthesizers had become popular, and electromechanical keyboards were beginning to fall out of fashion. The final models were manufactured in 1982. After Hohner stopped producing electro-mechanical clavinets, they used
4575-417: The player's hand and the production of sound, the clavichord has been referred to as the most intimate of keyboard instruments. Despite its many (serious) limitations, including extremely low volume, it has considerable expressive power, the player being able to control attack, duration, and volume, and even provide certain subtle effects of swelling of tone and a type of vibrato unique to the clavichord. Since
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#17327873175854650-576: The possible exception of providing accompaniment to a soft baroque flute, recorder, or single singer. J. S. Bach's son Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach was a great proponent of the instrument, and most of his German contemporaries regarded it as a central keyboard instrument, for performing, teaching, composing and practicing. The fretting of a clavichord provides new problems for some repertoire, but scholarship suggests that these problems are not insurmountable in Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier . C. P. E. Bach, one of
4725-469: The privy-purse expenses of Elizabeth of York, queen of Henry VII, in an entry dated August 1502: Item. The same day, Hugh Denys for money by him delivered to a stranger that gave the queen a payre of clavycordes. In crowns form his reward iiii libres . The clavichord was very popular from the 16th century to the 18th century, but mainly flourished in German-speaking lands, Scandinavia , and
4800-478: The song "Smokey Joe" from her 2007 album American Doll Posse . Amos also featured her use of the Clavinet on her 2004 recording "Not David Bowie", released as part of her 2006 box set , A Piano: The Collection . In 1976 Oscar Peterson played (with Joe Pass on acoustic guitar) songs from Porgy And Bess on the clavichord. Keith Jarrett also recorded an album titled Book of Ways (1986) in which he plays
4875-452: The string (known as Bebung ). When the key is released, the tangent loses contact with the string and the vibration of the string is silenced by strips of damping cloth. The action of the clavichord is unique among all keyboard instruments in that one part of the action simultaneously initiates the sound vibration while at the same time defining the endpoint of the vibrating string, and thus its pitch. Because of this intimate contact between
4950-401: The string vibrates from the bridge only as far as the tangent, multiple keys with multiple tangents can be assigned to the same string. This is called fretting . Early clavichords frequently had many notes played on each string, even going so far as the keyed monochord —an instrument with only one string—though most clavichords were triple- or double-fretted. Since only one note can be played at
5025-476: The time he bought this. The signal from the Clavinet is fed into a Dunlop Cry Baby wah-wah pedal, then into a Fender Deville amplifier. Citations Sources Clavichord The name is derived from the Latin word clavis , meaning "key" (associated with more common clavus , meaning "nail, rod, etc.") and chorda (from Greek χορδή) meaning "string, especially of a musical instrument". An analogous name
5100-637: The twentieth century, it was impossible to use the quiet clavichord in anything but a small room. However, during the clavichord's heyday, evenings of music-making in the home formed the largest part of people's musical experiences. In the home the clavichord was the ideal instrument for solo keyboard music and instrumental accompaniment. Organists also were known to practice in their homes on pedal clavichords . Today clavichords are played primarily by Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical music enthusiasts. They attract many interested buyers, and are manufactured worldwide. There are now numerous clavichord societies around
5175-402: The upper surface of the instrument is teak veneer, which was cheaper to manufacture. The instrument came with a removable lid used for transporting, which also had space to store the music stand. The D6 allowed a more versatile sound election, which could be selected by six rocker switches to the left of the keyboard. The left four switches are concerned with tone; "Brilliant" and "Treble" activate
5250-543: The visual aesthetic is often as important as the sound. Originally, the instruments were often available in bright and unusual colors (orange, blue, bright red, green) with showy chrome legs, multi-colored stop-tabs, and reverse-colored or gray-and-white keys. Towards the mid-1970s, combo organs began to take on a more muted appearance, with woodgrain or black covering and conventional keyboard colors. Many combo organs were produced in such countries as Italy or Japan, yet some more common models used by major acts were manufactured in
5325-557: The world, and some 400 recordings of the instrument have been made in the past 70 years. Leading modern exponents of the instrument have included Christopher Hogwood and Thurston Dart . The clavichord has also gained attention in other genres of music, in the form of the Clavinet , which is a solid body electric clavichord with magnetic pickups that plug into an amp. Stevie Wonder uses a Clavinet in many of his songs, such as " Superstition " and " Higher Ground ". A Clavinet played through an instrument amplifier with guitar effect pedals
5400-412: Was a domestic model with a trapezoid -shaped case and three wooden legs. The keyboard has reverse-colour keys, and a clear plastic music stand. It has a built-in amplifier and speaker which run off four 1.5V batteries. This model was designed to resemble a typical Renaissance-era keyboard. The Clavinet D6, introduced in 1971, continued the case style of the C but is covered in black vinyl leathercloth and
5475-482: Was by Johann Speth in 1693 and the earliest such extant signed and dated clavichord was built in 1716 by Johann Michael Heinitz. Such instruments are referred to as unfretted whereas instruments using the same strings for several notes are called fretted . Among the advantages to unfretted instruments are flexibility in tuning (the temperament can be easily altered) and the ability to play any music exactly as written without concern for "bad" notes. Disadvantages include
5550-415: Was introduced in 1979. It has a black vinyl leather cloth covered case with a rectangular profile with rounded corners and a removable metal lid to protect the keys and control surface for transport. The control panels at the left hand end of the instrument include those found on a D6 along with a sliding volume control. It included support brackets so it could be mounted on the rounded top of a Rhodes Piano ,
5625-401: Was much more interested in the technical features provided by the clavichord. He mentioned this in his book (Versuch über die wahre, Art das Clavier zu spielen, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Berlin, 1759.): "Of the many keyboard instruments, many of which are little known because of defects, or because they have not yet been introduced everywhere, there are two which have been most widely acclaimed,
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