Plucking vs Hammers

[Stephen Birkett]

Just a remark on this subject. When a string is plucked it is given
an initial displacement...when a string is struck it is given an
initial velocity. This is the fundamental difference between these
two methods of exitation. Mechanically it is much easier to vary the
velocity imparted by striking than it is to vary significantly the
displacement of a (mechanically) plucked string. Thus a range of
dynamics can be achieved with hammers but not with quills. The quill
slips off the string at a particular displacement regardless of the
velocity the quill is given...this point being determined by the
relationship between string and quill elastic forces (the balance
achieved between these two elastic forces is the art of voicing a
quilled instrument).

Stephen Birkett (Fortepianos)
Authentic Reproductions of 18th and 19th Century Pianos
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
tel: 519-885-2228
fax: 519-763-4686