bebung

Bebung is a vibrato-like tremolo specific to the clavichord and, to a lesser extent, to other early keyboard instruments. It is produced by rapidly varying the finger pressure on a depressed key, so that the tangent remains in contact with the string while the note is sustained. By repeating small upward and downward finger movements, the player re-excites the string in quick succession, creating a subtle, pulsating tone. The fundamental pitch remains essentially constant, while the volume and timbre acquire a quivering quality that has been described in German and other historical writings as bebung.

Bebung was an expressive device closely associated with Baroque keyboard practice, particularly in German repertoire. It relies on the clavichord’s unique action, which allows the string to be re-energized after the initial strike. The effect is instrument-dependent and can be difficult to control on modern instruments; on pianos it is impossible to reproduce, and on harpsichords the mechanism does not permit the sustained, repeated contact necessary for bebung.

Today bebung is discussed in historical performance literature as a characteristic color of clavichord touch. It informs how players sculpt phrasing and tone color, and modern clavichord makers and restorers consider touch sensitivity and action quality essential for achieving the effect. Digital simulations and recordings may approximate bebung, but the sensation is tied to the clavichord’s friction-based mechanism and its ability to sustain a precise tangent against the string.