A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Clavicembalo

by A. J. Hipkins

CLAVICEMBALO. One of the Italian names for a harpsichord, and the most used. It is derived from clavis, a key, and cembalo, a dulcimer or psaltery. Other Italian names for this instrument are gravicembalo (a phonetic variation caused by the interchange of r with l) and harpicordo, from which comes our 'harpsichord.' [See Cembalo, and Harpsichord.]

[ A. J. H. ]