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Topic: Harpsichord notation (Read 6538 times)

pies

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Sr. Member
Posts: 1467

Harpsichord notation

on: March 15, 2009, 12:06:08 AM

Anyone know what 4', 8^i, 8^s and other similar symbols mean?

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quantum

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 6289

Re: Harpsichord notation

Reply #1 on: March 15, 2009, 06:27:57 AM

4' would mean "4 foot" referring to a stop sounding one octave higher than written.

My guess is the 8^i, 8^s are "8 foot" stops and sounds as written. The terminology of footages is borrowed from organ nomenclature.

If a harpsichord has more than one 8' stop, my guess is that 8^i, 8^s differentiates between these stops. There is also a thing called a lute stop, not sure how this is indicated.

I play organ but not harpsichord - thus my knowledge comes more from the organ field.

Somewhat related:
I've got a free harpsichord sampled soundfont that I play with from time to time here:
https://sonimusicae.free.fr/accueil-en.html
If you have a MIDI keyboard you can play around with it and see what the different stops and footages sound like.

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Made a Liszt. Need new Handel's for Soler panel & Alkan foil. Will Faure Stein on the way to pick up Mendels' sohn. Josquin get Wolfgangs Schu with Clara. Gone Chopin, I'll be Bach

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