Keyboard Ancestors

The mid-eighteenth-century marked the beginning of the INdustrial Revolution, a shift that would have enormous impact on the arts. Having cast off the framework of traditional authority in monarchy and religion, revolution, progress and modernity become new foundations for arts and music.

Early keyboard ancestors were instruments like the organum and the harpsichord, clavichord, virginal and spinet. To make sounds, the strings were plucked, struck by a brass or wooden lever called a tangent, or bowed. The piano was the first instrument where the action was “bounced” off strings to make a variation of sound.

Real like events became the subject matter of art works while remaining stylistically similar.

The Sabithil Harpsichord is a modern example of the 17th Century instrument.