Harpsichord concerto - Definition

A harpsichord concerto is a concerto for harpsichord and orchestra.

In the Baroque period, when the harpsichord was a common instrument, several concertos were written for it (Johann Sebastian Bach wrote a number of examples), though it was never as popular as the violin or other string or wind instruments.

With the rise of the piano in the Classical period, the harpsichord fell out of use, and nothing was written for it by major composers through the Romantic era. In the 20th century, interest in performing Baroque music in a more historically accurate way rose, and the harpsichord began to be played once more. As well as playing old music, harpsichordists commissioned new pieces for the instrument: Wanda Landowska, an important force in returning the harpsichord to the concert hall, commissioned concerti from Francis Poulenc and Manuel de Falla, for example.

List of harpsichord concertos

• Johann Sebastian Bach - various works (18th century)
• Manuel de Falla - Harpsichord Concerto (1926)
• Henryk Górecki - Harpsichord Concerto (1980)
• Frank Martin - Harpsichord Concerto (1951-52)
• Bohuslav Martinu - Harpsichord Concerto (1935)
• Francis Poulenc - Concert champêtre (1927-28)

Several other works feature the harpsichord as a solo instrument alongside others, including:

• Johann Sebastian Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 (around 1720)
• Elliott Carter - Double Concerto (1959-61, for harpsichord, piano and orchestra)
• Alfred Schnittke - Concerto Grosso No. 1 (!977, for two violins, harpsichord, prepared piano and orchestra)