| Even non-musicians are familiar with keyboard | | | | reason that people believe the harpsichord was the |
| instruments. Few people reach adulthood without | | | | first keyboard instrument. Modern pianos are based on |
| having had at least one opportunity to bang on a | | | | a very similar design to its predecessors. Harpsichords, |
| keyboard of some type. However, many people | | | | however, were much smaller (though larger than the |
| (including musicians) aren't aware of the history behind | | | | clavichord). The harpsichord had many variations that |
| keyboard instruments. Their evolution is both | | | | operated on the same basic musical principles. Some |
| fascinating and surprising. | | | | of these include the virginal, the spinet and the |
| Many people mistakenly believe that the harpsichord | | | | clavicytherium. |
| was the earliest keyboard instrument. Harpsichords | | | | Like music trends always do, the harpsichord fell out of |
| were undoubtedly a precursor to the piano. However, | | | | fashion upon the advent of the piano. The piano, |
| the pipe organ actually predates the harpsichord by | | | | though usually a bit larger, produced a cleaner sound. |
| some 1100 years. In fact, the pipe organ was the only | | | | Harpsichords became all but obsolete within just a few |
| keyboard instrument until the invention of the clavichord | | | | decades. Ironically, harpsichords have come back into |
| and the harpsichord. | | | | fashion in recent years because of their unique and |
| The earliest pipe organs were massive structures. | | | | distinctive sound. They are often heard as part of the |
| Upon their emergence, few companies actually made | | | | backup for many contemporary songs, though |
| pipe organs. Even fewer people were trained to install | | | | relatively few people actually own a genuine |
| and repair them. Their size and complexity made them | | | | harpsichord. |
| difficult to work with, although the sound they produced | | | | The piano is by far the most common keyboard |
| was magnificent. Pipe organs often contained multiple | | | | instrument today. They are found in nearly every |
| keyboards to operate the many pipes and produce | | | | school and church in North America, as well as in |
| the rich sounds that the instrument is associated with. | | | | millions of private homes. Most every music student |
| Naturally, this was not the type of instrument that the | | | | has at least some piano training. They are one of the |
| average person played at home. Most pipe organs | | | | easiest instruments to learn to play and provide a |
| were located in churches and concert halls. | | | | good musical basis for learning other instruments. |
| Eventually, more compact versions were invented. | | | | Of course, with an electronics-loving society came the |
| Pipe organs evolved into regular organs, which most | | | | natural evolution of the piano to a plug-in version. |
| people of today are familiar with. They were more | | | | These are commonly referred to as synthesizers. |
| easily afforded by smaller parishes and even private | | | | Aside from the obvious difference from the piano in |
| owners. They were also much more compact and | | | | the requirement of electricity, synthesizers are capable |
| easier to repair. | | | | of mimicking many different instruments. Even the |
| The clavichord entered the scene in the early 15th | | | | most rudimentary of synthesizers usually have several |
| century. It first emerged as a "practice instrument." | | | | different instrument modes. The more complex the |
| Since not all musicians could afford or had easy | | | | machine, the more sounds it is able to reproduce. More |
| access to an organ, the clavichord became a | | | | expensive models are extremely complex and |
| convenient alternative. It provided organists a means | | | | technical. Their technology is of such quality that it can |
| for practicing at home without having to go to a church | | | | be difficult to distinguish their sound from the actual |
| or other location to find an organ. Clavichords were | | | | instrument they are mimicking. |
| smaller than today's piano and may be compared to | | | | New advances in technology, especially in computers, |
| today's smaller keyboard synthesizers, minus the need | | | | are being made every year. How this will affect the |
| for electricity. | | | | further evolution of keyboard instruments remains to |
| It was likely very shortly after that the harpsichord | | | | be seen. It appears, though, that the good old fashioned |
| was invented. The harpsichord more closely | | | | piano is here to stay for awhile. |
| resembled today's piano. This may be part of the | | | | |