It is common knowledge that the piano was developed to produce a keyboard instrument with a larger dynamic range and higher sound radiation level than the harpsichord possesses. Also, the harpsichord is a plucked string instrument with a very controlled mechanism to excite the string. For these reasons it is often falsely understood that the harpsichord does not exhibit any dynamic variation. On the contrary, the signal analysis and the listening test made in the this study show that minor but audible differences in the dynamic levels exist. The signal analysis portrays that stronger playing forces produce higher levels in harmonics. The energy given by the player is not only distributed to the plucking mechanism but also carried on from the key to the body. This is evident from the increased level of body mode radiation. A synthesis model for approximating the dynamic behavior of the harpsichord is also proposed. It contains gain and timbre control, and a parallel filter structure to simulate the soundboard knock characteristic for high key velocity tones.

*Link to paper*

Sound samples

C3 - piano pianissimo

C3 - mezzo forte

C3 - forte fortissimo

C6 - forte fortissimo - target tone (recorded)

C6 - mezzo forte - synthesized . Basic synthesis. The synthesized tone does not have the reverb-like filter on, hence, the difference in timbre.

C6 - simulated forte fortissimo - synthesized . Basic synthesis + soundboard model. The synthesized tone does not have the reverb-like filter on, hence, the difference in timbre.

Harpsichord research at TKK

Harpsichord at TKK - Synthesis samples

HARPSY project information

History of the Harpsichord

Harpsichord Tour

LEGO harpsichord

Other related works

Examples of clavichord synthesis

Analysis and synthesis of musical sounds at TKK