4.1 The harpsichord and organ: construction and playing techniques

Baroque keyboard instruments, like harpsichords and organs, were marvels of engineering. Their intricate designs allowed musicians to create rich, complex sounds that defined the era's music. These instruments weren't just tools—they were the heart of Baroque composition and performance.

Understanding how harpsichords and organs work is key to appreciating Baroque music. From the plucking mechanism of harpsichords to the air-driven pipes of organs, these instruments shaped how composers wrote and how audiences experienced music in the Baroque period.

Harpsichord and Organ Construction and Mechanics

Construction of Baroque keyboard instruments

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• Harpsichord constructed with a wooden case and lid to control volume by opening or closing
• Harpsichord strings stretched horizontally across a soundboard
• Harpsichord keyboard has levers that pluck the strings when keys are pressed
• Harpsichords often feature two or more sets of strings, controlled by separate manuals (keyboards) to provide different timbres and volume levels
• Organ consists of pipes, wind chest, bellows, and keyboard(s)
• Organ pipes arranged in ranks, each producing a specific timbre (flute, reed, string)
• Organ wind supplied by bellows and distributed to the pipes via the wind chest
• Organ keyboard controls the flow of air to the pipes through a complex mechanism of valves and trackers, allowing the organist to select which ranks of pipes sound

Sound production in harpsichord vs organ

• Harpsichord strings plucked by quills or plectra attached to the keys, producing sound through vibration
• Harpsichord volume cannot be varied by touch, only by using different sets of strings or opening/closing the lid
• Organ sound produced by air flowing through the pipes
• Organ pipes of different sizes, shapes, and materials produce different timbres (principal, flute, string, reed)
• Organ volume controlled by the amount of air supplied and the number of pipes engaged, allowing for a wide dynamic range

Playing techniques for keyboard instruments

• Harpsichord fingering involves finger substitution and hand crossing to facilitate smooth, legato playing
• Harpsichord articulation achieved through timing and duration of notes rather than dynamics
• Harpsichord ornamentation essential for expressive playing, including trills, mordents, and appoggiaturas
• Organ fingering depends on the specific keyboard and pipe layout of each instrument
• Organ articulation achieved through the use of different touch and release techniques (legato, staccato, portato)
• Organ registration involves selecting and combining different pipe ranks to create desired timbres and dynamics

Role of keyboards in Baroque music

• Harpsichord used as a solo instrument for keyboard works (suites, toccatas, variations)
• Harpsichord serves as a continuo instrument, providing harmonic support and rhythmic foundation in ensemble pieces (trio sonatas, concertos)
• Organ used as a solo instrument for preludes, fugues, toccatas, and chorale-based works
• Organ serves as a continuo instrument, often used in sacred music to support choirs and ensembles (cantatas, oratorios)
• Organ plays a liturgical role, accompanying congregational singing and providing music for various parts of religious services (preludes, postludes, interludes)