gravicembalo

American  

[grav-i-chem-buh-loh, grah-vi-] / ˌgræv ɪˈtʃɛm bəˌloʊ, ˌgrɑ vɪ- /

noun

plural

gravicembali, gravicembalos

1. a harpsichord.

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Etymology

Origin of gravicembalo

1855–60; < Italian, alteration of clavicembalo harpsichord (by association with grave heavy); see clavicembalo

Example Sentences

Cristofori called the instrument “a gravicembalo col piano e forte,” meaning a “keyboard instrument that can be played soft and loud.”

From Slate • Sep. 11, 2015

They were published in London by John Johnson, and bear the title, "Sonate di gravicembalo dedicate a sua altezza reale la principessa da Pier Domenico Paradies Napolitano."

From The Pianoforte Sonata Its Origin and Development by Shedlock, J. S. (John South)

Fétis, in his Biographie Universelle des Musiciens, even states that he wrote sonatas for gravicembalo.

From The Pianoforte Sonata Its Origin and Development by Shedlock, J. S. (John South)

The accounts which have come down to us note that the song of Aurora was accompanied by a gravicembalo, an organ, a flute, a harp and a large viol.

From Some Forerunners of Italian Opera by Henderson, W. J. (William James)