HARPSICHORD | ContraPlays

I've been teaching myself to play the harpsichord. You're never too old to become an 18th century villain.

[ContraPointsLive]

I've wanted to play the harpsichord since 2008, when I saw a performance of this exact piece on YouTube by Gustav Leonhardt (in 18th century finery and a powdered wig no less). But I never had the opportunity to play one until a couple months ago, when I blew the ContraPoints money on this beautiful French double manual. It has keys like a piano (though the short and long keys are color inverted, which is cool), but otherwise it's a completely different instrument. The strings are plucked rather than hammered, so in a way it's more like a guitar or lute. It has 61 keys times three choirs, which amounts to more than 180 total strings. It has to be tuned regularly, which takes me about an hour. It is worth it.

[saddo.masochist]

Natalie has finally reached her final form, a marchioness from 1728. Truly inspiring.

[exsanguinatedd]

Very happy to see you uploading more content like this. Please never let yourself be pigeonholed into only one type of videos - we need more renaissance people on YouTube.

[K_i_t_t_y]

The harpsichord is a CRIMINALLY underrated instrument imo.

[Jasper_the_Cat]

It's not an indulgence when you play as beautifully as you do, in which we all get to share in this joy. Thanks for all you do, Natalie. We love you!

[kestrel]

for those who aren't familiar, the harpsichord as smaller/thinner keys that require high accuracy. Even great pianists can really struggle to hit the right nots while maintaining tempo at speed with these classical songs. This was a fantastic performance 💜

[Legomyegoorj]

Beautiful playing Natalie, from a professional historical keyboardist to another.

[earenqueen]

Natalie is on her gothic villain era and I am all for it
ETA the fact that you are self-taught is insane!!

[conancat]

Petition for Lady Floppington to make a comeback to play the harpsichord 👗👑

[thespaceshuttlechallenger]

*two minute into enjoying a lovely harpsichord music when I realize that's Contrapoints*

[thequeerquartz]

i always loved how every surface of a harpsichord was open for adornment and painting, pianos are so bare by comparison. hope i get to play one one day <3

[MattParkent]

I love that tinny twangy sound that the harpsichord makes! Definitely an under-appreciated instrument.

[tortis]

With skills like this, Natalie is on her way to becoming a Professional Widow.

[loofychan]

This is where I hoped my ContraPoints money would one day be destined. HARPSICHORD! Thank you for sharing!

Only two months of practice, and you're reading from the music, and you're already playing like this? This is my first time coming across your channel (this video was recommended to me by the almighty algorithm), but I can tell you have been a talented musician (almost certainly a pianist) for a very long time. This is, by the way, one of my favourite pieces that have ever been composed, just because of that cadenza.
I also want a harpsichord and/or a clavichord, but I have too many instruments in my house already: an upright piano, a digital piano, and the most redneck digital organ that I'm aware of.

[MatthewParrella]

I always appreciate an appropriately dramatic page turn, this is absolutely wonderful! I'm in college and your enthusiasm for keyboards inspired me to transition from exclusively learning pieces on the piano into starting to study the organ (I upload the ones I'm practicing on my channel, shameless plug) and ya I'm just grateful for all of the keyboardists on here. Again, this is just... spectacular !!

[Western_]

Playing this in the background while I watch my servants try to teach an exotic "Ostrich" how to play Cricket.

[Mhmusiccc]

This is my favorite Bach harpsichord cadenza! It

Great job, Natalie!

[en-blanc-et-noir]

Natalie, WHAT'S GOING ON??? I already kinda got the impression that you do have a soft spot for classical music from the video essays BUT that you're actually jamming, let alone as well learned how to tune that thing... Chapeau! Money well invested I'd say...

[MafagafosRoxos]

This is actually the tran dream, trapsichord. On a less jokey note I'm so happy hearing you play, cannot wait for a Netherlands Bach Society collab