What does this research mean for the field?

Between 1600 and 1800, the harpsichord idiom evolved from practical performance habits into intentional, instrument-specific notated compositional details, functioning as a fluid framework for creative interpretation rather than a fixed set of rules. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to explore how harpsichord idiom developed from 1600 to 1800, focusing on instrument-specific features in composition.

May 28, 2026

The Emergence of Harpsichord Idiom: Historical Development, Aesthetic Context, and Performance Practice during the Baroque and Early Classical Periods

Key Points

The research aims to explore how harpsichord idiom developed from 1600 to 1800, focusing on instrument-specific features in composition.
Analyzed historical sources related to organ and lute traditions.
Examined Italian and French performance practices and Enlightenment aesthetic debates.
Conducted case studies on various composers to illustrate shifts in keyboard writing.
Identified a transition from generic keyboard writing to instrument-specific composition.
Highlighted the role of idiom as a fluid interaction informing performance practices.
Emphasized that idiom supports informed and creative interpretation rather than strict rules.

Abstract

This study examines the emergence of harpsichord idiom between 1600 and 1800, treating idiom not as a fixed stylistic category but as a fluid interaction between instrument, notation, and aesthetic thought. By examining organ and lute traditions, Italian and French performance practices, and later Enlightenment aesthetic debates, the research traces how idiomatic features gradually moved from practical habits to notated and intentional compositional detail. Case studies from various composers illustrate a shift from generic keyboard writing toward instrument-specific composition. The study suggests that idiom should inform performance not as a restrictive rule set, but as a historically rooted framework that can support informed, yet creative interpretation. keywords: harpsichord, idiom, baroque, classical, instrumental idiom, performance practice, instrumental writing

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