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Spinet

A spinet is a smaller type of harpsichord or other keyboard instrument, such as a piano or organ.

Spinet piano made by Baldwin and sold under the brand name Acrosonic. Date of manufacture unknown.

Spinet piano made by Baldwin and sold under the brand name Acrosonic. Date of manufacture unknown.

A spinet piano manufactured by Gulbransen

A spinet piano manufactured by Gulbransen

Detail of the interior structure of the Gulbransen spinet shown above. The drop action, lying below the level of the keyboard, can be seen, as well as the extreme angling of the strings needed to provide sufficient length of strings within the limited case height. Click on image for expanded view.

Detail of the interior structure of the Gulbransen spinet shown above. The drop action, lying below the level of the keyboard, can be seen, as well as the extreme angling of the strings needed to provide sufficient length of strings within the limited case height. Click on image for expanded view.

Organs[edit]

The spinet organ, a product of the mid-20th century, served the same function (domestic context, low cost) that was served by spinet harpsichords and spinet pianos. The spinet organ physically resembled a small upright piano, and presented simplified controls and functions that were both less expensive to produce and less intimidating to learn than other organs.

(1967). Three Centuries of Harpsichord Making. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-88845-6.

Hubbard, Frank

Kottick, Edward (2003). A History of the Harpsichord. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press.  0-253-34166-3.

ISBN

Montanari, Giuliana (2002). "The oval spinets and Grind Prince Ferdinando de' Medici's collection of quilled instruments". In Rossi-Rognoni, Gabriele (ed.). La spinetta del 1690 [The 1690 Oval Spinet]. Florence: Sillabe for the Galleria dell'Accademia.

Morris, Stephen (1986). (Thesis). London: London College of Furniture, BTEC HND Dissertation.

The English Bentside Spinet 1660 to 1730

offers detailed coverage of the harpsichord spinet; see under "Spinet".

The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians

. Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.

"Spinet" 

. New International Encyclopedia. 1905.

"Spinet" 

Photo of 1741 Spinet by Johannes Pleyer (Hans Adler Music Museum)