Harpsichords fortunately came from days when it was possible to make up a sensible name for each and every part. With the knowledge explosion bringing new publications (and websites!) in our field each year, we offer this lexicon to encourage use of the correct descriptive terms and help increase general technical understanding of the harpsichord.
NB Many languages lack terms for certain parts, so the English word is often used. Sometimes, of course, the direct translation is quite meaningless. The terms marked “*” in the Dutch translations below may not yet be in general usage, although I would expect most harpsichord makers would understand exactly what part of the instrument my colleague Jan Kalsbeek is describing by his invented word.
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 THE PARIS WORKSHOP |
 THE PARIS WORKSHOP |
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 harpsichord |
klavecimbel |
| spinet |
spinet |
| virginal |
virginaal |
| fretted clavichord |
gebonden clavichord |
| unfretted clavichord |
ongebonden clavichord / vrij |
| fortepiano |
fortepiano |
| case |
kast |
| lid |
deksel |
| flap |
klep |
| lid batten |
deksel versteviging |
| lid stick |
dekselstok |
| hinges |
schanieren |
| spine |
rug |
| bentside |
gebogenkant |
| tail |
staart |
| cheek |
wang |
| back bottom |
achterbodem |
| front bottom |
voorbodem |
| wrestplank |
stemstok |
| wrestplank support blocks |
steun blokken |
| wrestplank veneer |
stemstok fineer |
| soundboard |
zangbodem |
| liner |
lijsten |
| spine soundboard moulding |
rug zangbodemsierlijst |
| cheek moulding |
wanglijst |
| hitchpinrail |
aanhanglijst |
| bridge |
kam, brug |
| 4´ hitchpinrail |
4´ aanhanglijst * / (boudin) |
| ribs |
ribben |
| cutoff bar |
grote rib |
| upper braces |
bovenkastschoor, bovenkastversteviging |
| upper brace wedges |
wiggen ter ondersteuning van de bovenkast |
| case corner reinforcing blocks |
hoeksteunen |
| lower frames |
bodemsteunen * |
| upper bellyrail |
dam * |
| upper bellyrail stiffener |
damsteunen * |
| stand |
onderstel |
| legs |
poten |
| leg dowels |
benenpennen |
| upper stand stretcher |
bovenframe onderstel |
| lower stand stretcher |
onderframe onderstel |
| case front rails |
kast voorlijst |
| nameboard |
naambord |
| nameboard cap moulding |
naambord sierlijst |
| nameboard batten |
naambordlijst |
| nut |
stemblokkam |
| buff batten |
lattenlijst |
| buff batten pins |
lattenlijst bevestigingspinnen |
| jackrail |
dokkenlijst |
| jackrail hooks |
bevestigingshaakjes dokkenlijst |
| jackrail felt |
dokkenlijstvilt |
| music desk |
muziekstandaard |
| fallboard |
stortplank |
| case front moulding |
profiel aan de voorkant van de kast |
| keyboard |
toetsenbord, klavier |
| keys |
toetsen |
| balance rail |
balansbalk |
| rack |
achtergeleiding toetsenbord |
| transposing blocks |
transpositieblokken |
| key end blocks |
klaviereindeblokken |
| touchrail |
toetsenaanraaklijst |
| sharps |
halvetoontoetsen |
| balance pins |
balanspinnen |
| guide pins |
registratiepinnen |
| keyend felt |
toetseneindevilt |
| touchrail cloth |
toetsenaanraaklijstvilt * |
| backrail cloth |
achterlijstvilt * |
| felt balance punchings |
vilten balansmoesjes |
| paper balance punchings |
papieren balansmoesjes |
| hitchpins |
aanhangpinnen |
| bridge & nut pins |
registratie pinnen |
| strings |
snaren |
| tuning pins |
stemknoppen |
| tuning hammer |
stemhamer |
| lower guide |
onderzeef * / onderste register |
| lower guide support |
onderzeefsteun * / steun voor het onderste register |
| registers |
registers |
| register end blocks |
register eindblokken |
| stop levers |
registerhendels |
| spine cover plate |
rug afdekplaat |
| jacks |
springers |
| tongues |
tongen |
| damper felt |
demper |
| plectra |
plektra |
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Multilingual Harpsichord Lexicon |
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Harpsichords Australia Home Page |