The Épinette (or espinette ) is a Musical instrument with cords pinches and keyboard of the family of the harpsichords. The virginal is a Clavecin whose cords are oblique compared to the key of the keyboard. The cord is pinch with a feather.

The virginal was very widespread at the same time as the harpsichord in Europe of the end of 15th until the 18th century. The term harpsichord or virginal was used indifferently. In the old texts there is no strict use, the virginal term indicates in France the harpsichord until the 18th century. In Flandres, at the 17th century, a Virginal named virginal.

The term virginal comes from southernmost France and the Italy. The termination in " ette" would not be a diminutive but a Francization of Italian spin' etta .

Provision in plan

There is two types virginals because of a provision different from the plan of cords compared to the " bâton" of key of the keyboard, which influences the shape of the trunk.

• Italian: 10 degrees
• French: 25 degrees

Virginal with Italian the

The virginal with Italian the is of pentagonal form, light construction, and has two vibrating trestles , of which that of left, rectilinear, can be barred. Seldom rectangular it resembles by the form in this case the Virginal the Muselaar, with the Ottavino. In all these instruments the diagrid is placed on the right trunk and often follows the drawing of the rest in ess . Moreover the keyboard has levers of key of which the length doubles low register with the acute one; it results from this that the point of balance in the low register can be visible with the plating of the key.

Virginal with the Frenchwoman or harpsichord traverso

The virginal with the Frenchwoman or Harpsichord traverso, known as in wing of bird (of German): construction is in general free-Flemish, the plan - more collected - is close to that of a harpsichord, but with only one row of cords. This virginal has only one vibrating trestle like the harpsichord and the Clavicytherium, the sillet is fixed on a rectilinear diagrid, planted ankles, placed at the top of the keyboard. The keyboard has levers of key equal lengths like the harpsichord.

See too

• Beer of virginal
• Virginal of the Vosges

Quotation

the clavessin is a species of espinette in another provision of the keyboard. This name was given, because of these small points of feathers which draw the sound from the cords, which resemble spines . |Furetière, 1690.

In the virginal, there is a favorite cock and so to speak crowned, which survives all the others; it is famous… . |Chateaubriant Mémoires of in addition to-falls Livre 6th/Chapitre 2.

External bonds

• French Virginal
• Italian Virginal

Simple: Spinet

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