大键琴(harpsichord)

键盘乐器，以弹奏机械体而振动其弦。後来的大键琴包括以鹅毛（有时是羽毛）制成的琴拨（plectra）固定於由键盘驱动的垂直木柄上，当演奏者放开键盘时，由毛织品制成的制音器（damper）触碰琴弦。大键琴通常有两水平排列的键盘（或手键盘〔manual〕），且通常有两种或两种以上的琴弦，而能同步发出高8度或低8度的音调更胜於藉由敲击不同键所发出的音色（由不同材质制造的琴拨弹奏琴弦的不同部位所发出的声音），并可藉由被称做音栓（stop）的球状物放开或关闭声区。音符的音量大小并非是受敲击键盘力量大小的影响，而在放开键盘後也无法再维系音符的声音。大键琴最早出现於15世纪中叶，17～18世纪成为重要的独奏、伴奏和合奏乐器。约莫自1750年起功能更强的钢琴（pianoforte）取代了大键琴，至1820年大键琴大多已消声匿迹，直至20世纪方由学者、演奏者和琴师将之重现。

English version：

harpsichord

Keyboard instrument whose strings are set in vibration by a plucking mechanism. The latter consists of plectra made of quill (or sometimes leather) mounted on vertical wooden jacks that are activated by the keys. A cloth damper touches the string when the player releases the key. It often has two parallel keyboards (or manuals) and generally has two or more sets of strings; these permit the simultaneous sounding of pitches an octave higher or lower than the note struck as well as alternative tone colors (produced by plectra of different material plucking the strings at different points), and can be activated or deactivated by knobs called stops. The notes' loudness is not affected by the power with which the keys are struck, and there is no way to sustain a note after the key is released. Primitive harpsichords existed by the mid-15th century. In the 17th-18th century the harpsichord became a very important solo, accompanimental, and ensemble instrument. From c. 1750 the pianoforte, with its greater dynamic capacity, began to displace it, and by 1820 the harpsichord had largely vanished. It was revived in the 20th century by scholars, performers, and builders.