Harpsichord – Sheet Music, Tuition & Scores

"Brightly the keys, all twinkling, linked, all harpsichording, called to a voice to sing the strain of dewy morn..." James Joyce

The harpsichord is widely seen as the forerunner of the modern day piano, the main difference being its plucking mechanism, rather than hammers, which gives it its distinct sound, the sound of the Renaissance and the Baroque, signalling in a new dawn for early music.

Concert pitch at the time was 415 Hz, approximately a semitone lower than today, which is 440 Hz. The harpsichord it very sensitive to fluctuations in temperature and humidity, and needs to be tuned at least once a day. The tuning process only takes about 20 minutes on average, so it is a small price to pay, for a beautiful, clean tone.

Not only is the harpsichord an excellent solo instrument, for which many works (such as sonatas, suites, toccatas, variations and many more) were written by composers such as B. Sweelinck, J. S. Bach, his son C. P. E. Bach, D. Scarlatti, Handel and F. Couperin, but the harpsichord, alongside the Organ, Theorbo and Lute, plays a central role in the basso continuo in most Baroque ensembles.

The harpsichord forms the harmonic bridge between melody and bass, and its central role within the basso continuo is comparable to the modern keyboard’s function in a rock, pop or jazz band.

One of the main features of the Baroque style for harpsichord is ornamentation, such as trills, mordents, turns and tremolo, which are particularly prominent in the French Baroque with composers such as Francois Couperin and Rameau. Many such ornaments can also be found in the famous Well-Tempered Clavier (1722) by J. S. Bach.

As a favoured instrument of the bourgeoisie and royalty, the untimely end of the harpsichord was brought about by the people’s revolts of the French Revolution (1789 to 1799), harpsichords and clavichords were thrown out of the windows onto the streets of Paris in anger and burned!

With the revival of early music in the 1970s, more and more new harpsichords were built. Pioneers such as B. Gustav Leonhardt, Ton Koopman and Nikolaus Harnoncourt reinvented Renaissance and Baroque style, and the harpsichord grew in popularity, and was once again seen on concert stages, and in chamber venues all around the world.

Today you can find harpsichords built in Flemish, French, Italian, Austrian and German styles all over the world. They all have their own individual character and tone. Historical performance practice has now become second nature for harpsichord players, and has influenced the way we approach modern keyboard instruments, and most importantly how we view the piano.

Carry on harpsichording

J.S. Bach: Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Klav/Cemb
Johann Sebastian Bach

The Well-Tempered Clavier I

Part 1: BWV 846-869
Henle Urtext Edition

for: Piano [harpsichord]

Music score (Urtext edition)

Item no.: 401105

24.00  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
B. Pasquini: Opere per tastiera 7, Cemb/Org
Bernardo Pasquini

Opere per tastiera 7

London, B1 Bs. Add. 31501, II-III
Tastata – Opere d'intavolatura d'organo e cimbalo

for: Harpsichord [organ]

Music score

Item no.: 773422

30.80  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 2–4 weeks.
J.S. Bach: Goldberg-Variationen BWV 988, Cemb/Klav
Johann Sebastian Bach

Goldberg-Variationen BWV 988

Henle Urtext Editions

for: Harpsichord [piano]

Music score (Urtext edition)

Item no.: 401124

14.50  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
R. Hess: Formen und Farben, Org/HrmCeKlv
Reimund Hess

Formen und Farben

Leichte bis mittelschwere Vor-, Zwischen- und Nachspiele

for: Organ [harmonium/harpsichord/piano]

Music score

Item no.: 1317242

14.00  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
D. Plamenac: Keyboard Music of the Late Middle Ages in, Cemb

Keyboard Music of the Late Middle Ages in Codex Faenza 117

Corpus Mensurabilis Musicae 57

for: Harpsichord

Music score (anthology)

Item no.: 580927

52.20  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 1–2 months
D. Eichler: Generalbass - Eine Einführung, Org/Cemb
Diez Eichler

Basso Continuo – An Introduction

Based on historical sources

for: Organ [harpsichord]

Music lesson book

Item no.: 671934

27.50  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
DL: F. Couperin: Le Tic-Toc-Choc, ou les Maillotins aus
Download item
François Couperin

Le Tic-Toc-Choc, ou les Maillotins

aus "Pièces de Clavecin, Dix-Huitième Ordre"

for: Harpsichord [piano]

Sheet music

Item no.: 4243

2.50  €incl. VAT
Download product – instantly available.
A. Forqueray: Pièces de Clavecin, Cemb
Antoine Forqueray

Pièces de Clavecin

Le Pupitre 17

for: Harpsichord

Music score

Item no.: 239769

22.99  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 5–7 working days (de)
J.S. Bach: Das Wohltemperierte Klavier II, Klav/Cemb
Johann Sebastian Bach

The Well-Tempered Clavier II

Part 2: BWV 870-BWV 893
Edition without fingering

for: Piano [harpsichord]

Music score (Urtext edition)

Item no.: 401228

24.00  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
P. Dirksen: The Keyboard Music of Jan Pie, Cemb/OrgKlav (Bu)
Pieter Dirksen

The Keyboard Music of Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck

Its Style, Significance and Influence

for: Organ [harpsichord]

Book (Hardcover)

Item no.: 227700

58.40  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
The Amsterdam Harpsichord Tutor 1, Cemb

The Amsterdam Harpsichord Tutor 1

for: Harpsichord

Music lesson book

Item no.: 154075

24.80  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 2–5 working days (de)
D. Cimarosa: Sonate 1, Cemb/Klav
Domenico Cimarosa

Sonate 1

(1–44)

for: Harpsichord [piano]

Music score

Item no.: 265340

37.50  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
G. Muffat: 72 Versetl Samt 12 Toccaten
Gottlieb Muffat

72 Versetl Samt 12 Toccaten

for: Organ (manuals) [harpsichord]

Item no.: 348610

15.00  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 5–7 working days (de)
J.S. Bach: Inventionen und Sinfonien BWV 772-801, Cemb/Klav
Johann Sebastian Bach

Inventions and Sinfonias BWV 772–801

Bärenreiter Urtext
with Fingerings

for: Harpsichord [piano]

Music score (Urtext edition)

Item no.: 172511

19.50  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
W. von Preußen: Concerto in g-Moll, CembStr (Stsatz)
Wilhelmine von Bayreuth

Concerto in g-Moll

Erstveröffentlichung

for: Harpsichord, strings

Set of parts

Item no.: 361256

29.00  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
J.S. Bach: Präludien und Fughetten, Cemb/Klav
Johann Sebastian Bach

Preludes and Fughettas

composed in conjunction with the Well-Tempered Clavier II
Bärenreiter Urtext

for: Harpsichord [piano]

Music score (Urtext edition)

Item no.: 217129

15.95  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 2–5 working days (de)
D. Buxtehude: Freie Orgel- und Clavierwerke (manu, Orgm/Cemb
Dieterich Buxtehude

Free Organ and Keyboard Works (manualiter) – BuxWV 162–176, 225

Vol. II
Urtext – Critical Source Ddition of the Free Organ Works

for: Organ (manuals) [harpsichord]

Music score (Urtext edition)

Item no.: 817266

33.90  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 2–5 working days (de)
D. Cimarosa: Sonate 2, Cemb/Klav
Domenico Cimarosa

Sonate 2

(45–88)

for: Harpsichord [piano]

Music score

Item no.: 265341

39.99  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 5–7 working days (de)
J. von Lublin: Tablature of Keyboard Music 6/ 1, Cemb/Klav
Johannes von Lublin

Tablature of Keyboard Music 6/ 1

Corpus of Early Keyboard Music
lose Blattsammlung (Unbound 8.5x11(A4) offprint)

for: Harpsichord [piano]

Music score

Item no.: 139073

29.00  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 1–2 months
J.S. Bach: Klavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann, Klav/Cemb
Johann Sebastian Bach

Clavier-Büchlein for Wilhelm Friedemann Bach

Bärenreiter Urtext

for: Piano [harpsichord]

Music score (Urtext edition)

Item no.: 116759

21.50  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
J.S. Bach: Französische Suiten BWV 812-817, Cemb/Klav
Johann Sebastian Bach

French Suites BWV 812–817

without fingering

for: Harpsichord [piano]

Music score (Urtext edition)

Item no.: 664942

17.50  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
F. Couperin: pièces de clavecin 2 (L.P. 22), Cemb
François Couperin

pièces de clavecin 2 (L.P. 22)

Livre 2
Le Pupitre 22
Collection de musique ancienne publiée sous la direction de François Lesure

for: Harpsichord

Music score

Item no.: 177101

26.99  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 5–7 working days (de)
J. Fiocco: Pièces de Clavecin, Cemb (Part.)
Joseph-Hector Fiocco

Pièces de Clavecin

Le Pupitre - Heugel

for: Harpsichord

Score

Item no.: 276211

22.99  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
J.S. Bach: Konzerte BWV 1052-1059, CembOrch (Stp)
Johann Sebastian Bach

Concertos BWV 1052–1059

Bärenreiter Urtext

for: Harpsichord, orchestra

Study score (Urtext edition)

Item no.: 149204

39.95  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 2–5 working days (de)
G. Kirchhoff: Werke fuer Clavier, Klav (Part.)
Gottfried Kirchhoff

Werke für Clavier

Erstausgabe
ortus organum
Band 2

for: Organ manuals [harpsichord/piano]

Music score

Item no.: 601670

18.00  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 5–7 working days (de)
J.S. Bach: Suiten, Partiten, Sonaten, Cemb
Johann Sebastian Bach

Suiten, Partiten, Sonaten

bearbeitet für Cembalo

for: Harpsichord

Music score

Item no.: 671306

46.95  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
D. Scarlatti: Sonaten I, Cemb
Domenico Scarlatti

Sonaten I

K 1-52
Oeuvres complètes pour clavier, volume 1
Le Pupitre 31

for: Harpsichord

Music score

Item no.: 177108

22.99  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
J.S. Bach: Das Wohltemperierte Klavier II, Klav/Cemb
Johann Sebastian Bach

The Well-Tempered Clavier II

BWV 870-893

for: Piano [harpsichord]

Music score (Urtext edition)

Item no.: 401125

24.00  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
J.S. Bach: Einzeln überlieferte Klavierwerke III, Cemb/Klav
Johann Sebastian Bach

Miscellaneous Works for Piano III

BWV 992, 993, 989, 963, 820, 823, 832, 833, 822, 998
Bärenreiter Urtext

for: Harpsichord [piano]

Music score (Urtext edition)

Item no.: 296588

23.50  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 2–5 working days (de)
W. von Preußen: Concerto in g-Moll, CembStr (Part.)
Wilhelmine von Bayreuth

Concerto in g-Moll

Erstveröffentlichung

for: Harpsichord, strings

Score

Item no.: 335591

19.00  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 2–5 working days (de)
D. Scarlatti: Sonate per clavicembalo 9, Cemb/Klav
Domenico Scarlatti

Sonate per clavicembalo 9

Edizione Critica

for: Harpsichord [piano]

Music score (Urtext edition)

Item no.: 767495

49.99  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 5–7 working days (de)
I. Ahlgrimm: Manuale der Orgel- und Cembalotechnik, Org/Cemb

Manuale der Orgel- und Cembalotechnik

Fingerübungen und Etüden 1571-1760

for: Organ [harpsichord]

Music lesson book

Item no.: 282917

51.65  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
D. Scarlatti: Sonate per clavicembalo 2 , Cemb/Klav
Domenico Scarlatti

Sonate per clavicembalo 2

Edizione critica

for: Harpsichord [piano]

Music score (Urtext edition)

Item no.: 257377

49.99  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 5–7 working days (de)
A. Thorvaldsdottir: Fingerprints, Cemb
Anna Thorvaldsdottir

Fingerprints

Gegenwartsmusik

for: Harpsichord

Buch

Item no.: 1193606

12.85  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 2–4 weeks.
J. Pachelbel: Suiten für Cembalo, Cemb/Klav
Johann Pachelbel

Suiten für Cembalo

for: Harpsichord [piano]

Music score

Item no.: 214205

27.00  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
D. Scarlatti: Sonate per clavicembalo 3  , Cemb/Klav
Domenico Scarlatti

Sonate per clavicembalo 3

Edizione critica

for: Harpsichord [piano]

Music score (Urtext edition)

Item no.: 189530

49.99  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 5–7 working days (de)
H. Keaney: Figured Bass for Beginners, Cemb/Org
Helen Keaney

Figured Bass for Beginners

A Self-Paced Primer in Playing from a Figured Bass

for: Harpsichord [organ manuals]

Music lesson book

Item no.: 565277

38.50  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
S.L. Burton: Ready, Set, Improvise! (Bu)
Suzanne L. Burton, Alden H. Snell

Ready, Set, Improvise!

The Nuts and Bolts of Music Improvisation

for: Instrument [voice]

Book (softcover)

Item no.: 681777

25.75  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 5–7 working days (de)
D. Scarlatti: 25 Sonaten, Cemb/Klav
Domenico Scarlatti

25 Sonaten

for: Harpsichord [piano]

Music score

Item no.: 138800

29.99  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
Boxall Maria: Harpsichord Method
Maria Boxall

Harpsichord Method

Based on 16th to 18th-century sources

for: Harpsichord

Music lesson book

Item no.: 355053

29.50  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 2–5 working days (de)
D. Scarlatti: Sonate per clavicembalo 10, Cemb/Klav
Domenico Scarlatti

Sonate per clavicembalo 10

Essercizi per gravicembalo

for: Harpsichord [piano]

Music score

Item no.: 779029

44.99  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 2–5 working days (de)
D. Scarlatti: Sonate per clavicembalo 5, Cemb/Klav
Domenico Scarlatti

Sonate per clavicembalo 5

Critical Edition

for: Harpsichord [piano]

Music score (Urtext edition)

Item no.: 191140

49.99  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 5–7 working days (de)
R. Siegel: Apprendre à Toucher le Clavecin 2, Cemb
Richard Siegel

Apprendre à Toucher le Clavecin 2

Un choix d'exercices et de pièces pour débutants en deux volumes

for: Harpsichord

Music lesson book

Item no.: 466495

26.99  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 2–5 working days (de)
D. Scarlatti: Sonate per clavicembalo 8  , Cemb/Klav
Domenico Scarlatti

Sonate per clavicembalo 8

Edizione critica

for: Harpsichord [piano]

Music score (Urtext edition)

Item no.: 160070

49.99  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 5–7 working days (de)
D. Scarlatti: Sonate per clavicembalo 4 , Cemb/Klav
Domenico Scarlatti

Sonate per clavicembalo 4

No.154-213
Edizione critica

for: Harpsichord [piano]

Music score (Urtext edition)

Item no.: 257378

49.99  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 5–7 working days (de)
J. Riposo: Bebop Scales, AllInstr/Ges
Joe Riposo

Bebop Scales

Jazz Scales & Patterns in all 12 Keys
Phrase like a pro!

for: Instrument [voice]

Music lesson book

Item no.: 493356

9.50  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
F. Couperin: L'Art de toucher le clavecin , Cemb/Klav
François Couperin

L'Art de toucher le clavecin

Alfred masterwork edition

for: Harpsichord [piano]

Music score

Item no.: 637038

20.95  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 2–4 weeks.
D. Scarlatti: Sonate per clavicembalo 6, Cemb/Klav
Domenico Scarlatti

Sonate per clavicembalo 6

Sonate 274-333
Edizione Critica

for: Harpsichord [piano]

Music score (Urtext edition)

Item no.: 191368

49.99  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 5–7 working days (de)
R. Siegel: Apprendre à toucher le clavecin 1, Cemb (+CD)

Türk: Moderato

Richard Siegel

Apprendre à toucher le clavecin 1

Un choix d'exercices et de pièces pour débutants en deux volumes

for: Harpsichord

Music lesson book, demo CD

Item no.: 466494

24.99  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
In stock. Delivery time: 1–3 working days (de)
G.F. Händel: Klavierwerke I-IV, Klav/Cemb (4N)
George Frideric Handel

Keyboard Works I-IV

Special edition for the Handel memorial year 2009
Bärenreiter Urtext

for: Piano [harpsichord]

4 music scores (Urtext)

Item no.: 483531

88.00  €incl. VAT, plus shipping
Delivery time: 2–5 working days (de)
Verband deutscher MusikschulenBundesverband der Freien MusikschulenJeunesses Musicales DeutschlandFrankfurter Tonkünstler-BundBundes­verb­and deutscher Lieb­haber-OrchesterStützpunkt­händ­ler der Wiener Urtext Edition

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