Editing Clavichord (section)

==History and use==
[[File:Clavicorde Lépante.JPG|thumb|The "Lépante" fretted clavichord,<ref>[http://mediatheque.cite-musique.fr/masc/?INSTANCE=CITEMUSIQUE&URL=/ClientBookLineCIMU/recherche/NoticeDetailleByID.asp Catalogue entry] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419124012/http://mediatheque.cite-musique.fr/masc/?INSTANCE=CITEMUSIQUE&URL=%2Fclientbooklinecimu%2Frecherche%2FNoticeDetailleByID.asp |date=2014-04-19 }} for the Lépante clavichord, [[Cité de la Musique]], Paris (in French)</ref> Musée de la Musique, Paris]]

The clavichord was invented in the early fourteenth century.<ref>{{harvnb|Brauchli|1998}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Jeans|1951}}</ref> In 1404, the German poem "{{Lang|de|Der Minne Regeln|italic=no}}" mentions the terms ''clavicimbalum'' (a term used mainly for the [[harpsichord]]) and ''clavichordium'', designating them as the best instruments to accompany melodies.

One of the earliest references to the clavichord in England occurs in the privy-purse expenses of Elizabeth of York, queen of Henry VII, in an entry dated August 1502:
<blockquote>Item. The same day, [[Hugh Denys]] for money by him delivered to a stranger that gave the queen a payre of clavycordes. In crowns form his reward [[Roman Numerals|iiii]] [[£sd#Origins|libres]].<ref>Brinsmead, Edgar. History of the Pianoforte, London, 1879. pp. 90–91</ref></blockquote>

The clavichord was very popular from the 16th century to the 18th century, but mainly flourished in German-speaking lands, [[Scandinavia]], and the [[Iberian Peninsula]] in the latter part of this period. It had fallen out of use by 1850. In the late 1890s, [[Arnold Dolmetsch]] revived clavichord construction and [[Violet Gordon-Woodhouse]], among others, helped to popularize the instrument. Although most of the instruments built before the 1730s were small (four octaves, four feet long), the latest instruments were built up to seven feet long with a six octave range.<ref name="UK"/> 

It was a preferred instrument in the 18th century due to its unique expressive features, size, elegance, and affordability.
Due to its lower cost compared to other instruments, the clavichord was accessible, making it the first choice for individuals who wanted to learn the keyboard. Composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791), used to bring the clavichord with them on their travels to practice.{{sfn|Brauchli|1998|page=}}{{pn|date=November 2023}}

During the Mozart family's visit to Augsburg, they had the chance to visit the outstanding German keyboard instruments maker, Johann Andreas Stein (1728–1792), and purchased a clavichord from him. In a letter to his friend, Leopold Mozart (1719–1787) described it as 
"A pretty little keyboard instrument, which does us good service for practicing on during our travels."{{sfn|Brauchli|1998|page=}}{{pn|date=November 2023}}

Until electronic amplification in the twentieth century, it was impossible to use the quiet clavichord in anything but a small room. However, during the clavichord's heyday, evenings of music-making in the home formed the largest part of people's musical experiences. In the home the clavichord was the ideal instrument for solo keyboard music and instrumental accompaniment.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}Organists also were known to practice in their homes on [[Pedal clavichord|pedal clavichords]].

Today clavichords are played primarily by Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical music enthusiasts. They attract many interested buyers, and are manufactured worldwide. There are now numerous clavichord societies around the world, and some 400 recordings of the instrument have been made in the past 70 years. Leading modern exponents of the instrument have included [[Christopher Hogwood]] and [[Thurston Dart]].

===Modern music===
The clavichord has also gained attention in other genres of music, in the form of the [[Clavinet]], which is a solid body electric clavichord with magnetic pickups that plug into an amp. [[Stevie Wonder]] uses a Clavinet in many of his songs, such as "[[Superstition (song)|Superstition]]" and "[[Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder song)|Higher Ground]]". A Clavinet played through an [[instrument amplifier]] with guitar [[effect pedal]]s is often associated with [[funk]]y, [[disco]]-infused 1970s rock.

[[Guy Sigsworth]] has played clavichord in a modern setting with [[Björk]], notably on the studio recording of "[[All Is Full of Love]]". Björk also made extensive use of and even played the instrument herself on the song "My Juvenile" of her 2007 album ''[[Volta (album)|Volta]]''.

[[Tori Amos]] uses the instrument on "Caught a Lite Sneeze" from the album ''[[Boys for Pele]]'' and on the song "Smokey Joe" from her 2007 album ''[[American Doll Posse]]''. Amos also featured her use of the [[Clavinet]] on her 2004 recording "Not David Bowie", released as part of her 2006 [[box set]], ''[[A Piano: The Collection]]''.

In 1976 [[Oscar Peterson]] played (with Joe Pass on acoustic guitar) songs from ''Porgy And Bess'' on the clavichord. [[Keith Jarrett]] also recorded an album titled ''Book of Ways'' (1986) in which he plays a series of clavichord improvisations. [[The Beatles]]' "[[For No One]]" (1966) features [[Paul McCartney]] playing the clavichord. [[Rick Wakeman]] plays the Clavinet in the track "The Battle" from the album ''[[Journey to the Centre of the Earth (album)|Journey to the Centre of the Earth]]''.