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clavatuur

Clavatuur is a term used in musicology and organology to denote the keyboard mechanism of keyboard instruments, especially in historical contexts. The word derives from Latin clavatura, related to clav-"clavis" meaning key, and has a Dutch cognate in klavatuur. In practice, clavatuur refers to the collective components that translate a keyboard press into sound, including the key itself, its pivot, guiding rails, and the action that activates the sounding element.

In different instrument families, the clavatuur comprises distinct mechanisms. In the clavichord, pressing a key raises

Historically, clavatuur developed from simple leverage systems to more sophisticated escapement and hammer actions, paralleling advances

See also: keyboard (piano), clavichord, harpsichord, organ mechanism, keyboard action.

a
tangent
that
strikes
the
string;
in
the
harpsichord
and
virginal,
a
key
moves
a
jack
that
causes
a
plectrum
or
tongue
to
pluck
or
articulate
a
string;
in
the
piano,
the
key
movement
initiates
the
hammer
through
a
complex
mechanism
with
escapement.
The
clavatuur
thus
covers
the
keyboard's
layout,
the
timing
and
throw
of
the
action,
touch
and
response,
and
often
the
alignment
of
keys
and
the
set
of
mechanism
parts.
in
tonal
production,
touch,
and
dynamic
control.
Restoration
and
performance
of
early
keyboards
often
require
study
of
the
clavatuur
to
understand
and
reproduce
historical
touch
and
response.