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The instrument dates from the early 16th century – there is a harpsichord in [[London]]’s Victoria and Albert Museum that was built in [[Rome]] in 1521.

The instrument dates from the early 16th century – there is a harpsichord in [[London]]’s Victoria and Albert Museum that was built in [[Rome]] in 1521.

Some of the greatest keyboard music ever written – most of it heard these days on the [[piano]] - were first heard on the harpsichord. [[J. S. Bach]], [[Handel]],<ref>For a recording, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXeHd7Ovgjo</ref> the Frenchmen [[Couperin]], and [[Rameau]] wrote widely for the instrument. The hundreds of sonatas by [[Domenico Scarlatti]] <ref>For a recording, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vpG1PgFF34</ref> have profound significance in the development of the [[sonata form]]. Since the early 1900's, a resurgence of interest in the harpsichord has taken place, and most large conservatories offer instruction in harpsichord performance. The instrument is still used in recitals of early music and in its place as a continuo instrument in baroque chamber pieces.<ref>For a recording of the Bach keyboard concerti played on harpsichord, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kpqm1hxgH-w</ref>

Some of the greatest keyboard music ever written – most of it heard these days on the [[piano]] - were first heard on the harpsichord. [[J. S. Bach]], [[Handel]],<ref>For a recording, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXeHd7Ovgjo</ref> the Frenchmen [[Couperin]], and [[Rameau]] wrote widely for the instrument. The hundreds of sonatas by [[Domenico Scarlatti]] <ref>For a recording, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vpG1PgFF34</ref> have profound significance in the development of the [[sonata form]]. Since the early 1900's, a resurgence of interest in the harpsichord has taken place, and most large conservatories offer instruction in harpsichord performance. The instrument is still used in recitals of early music and in its place as a continuo instrument in baroque chamber pieces.<ref>For a recording of the Bach keyboard concerti played on harpsichord, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kpqm1hxgH-w</ref>

The disadvantages of the harpsichord, and the reason it lost popularity to the [[clavichord]] and the newly developing piano, was its inability to lengthen a note or to vary the loudness with finger pressure, meaning there was a lack of tonal variety, and emotional complexity. Whilst both [[Joseph Haydn|Haydn]] and [[Mozart]] played the harpsichord in their early days, they moved very quickly to the new [[piano|forte piano]]. Also, it became out of tune very quickly and needed a constant supply of new “quills” to keep it going.  

The disadvantages of the harpsichord, and the reason it lost popularity to the [[clavichord]] and the newly developing piano, was its inability to lengthen a note or to vary the loudness with finger pressure, meaning there was a lack of tonal variety, and emotional complexity. Whilst both [[Joseph Haydn|Haydn]] and [[Mozart]] played the harpsichord in their early days, they moved very quickly to the new [[piano|forte piano]]. Also, it became out of tune very quickly and needed a constant supply of new “quills” to keep it going.