Abstract
Related to the arcicembalo, the cimbalo cromatico was a type of harpsichord in use during the late 16th and early 17th c. While most keyboards were tuned in 12-note meantone temperament, limiting the number of available sharps (three) and flats (two), the cimbalo cromatico's 19-note keyboard contained separate keys for all sharps and flats. Though useful, the instrument lacked influence; composers tended to confine themselves to the meantone system, using the more widespread instruments with split keys for the extra notes needed.
DOI
10.5642/perfpr.199205.01.08
Recommended Citation
Stembridge, Christopher
(1992)
"Music for the Cimbalo Cromatico and the Split-Keyed Instruments in Seventeenth-Century Italy,"
Performance Practice Review:
Vol. 5:
No.
1, Article 8.
DOI: 10.5642/perfpr.199205.01.08
Available at:
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/ppr/vol5/iss1/8