Tangent (clavichord)
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A tangent, when referred to in the context of the action of a clavichord, refers to the small piece of metal similar in shape and size to the head of a flat-bladed screwdriver. It is similar to the tangent of a Tangent piano only in that it is driven, ultimately by the player's fingers to strike the string and initiate sound. In a clavichord, the tangent remains in contact with the string while the string is sounding its note, while in the tangent piano, the tangent rebounds from the string as in a modern piano, that is, it has an escapement.
The action of the clavichord is unique among all keyboard instruments in that one part of the action simultaneously initiates the sound vibration while at the same time defining the endpoint of the vibrating string, and thus its pitch. Because of this intimate contact between the players hand and the production of sound, the clavichord has been referred to as the most intimate of instruments. Despite its many (serious) limitations, including extremely low volume, it has considerable expressive power, the player being able to control attack, duration, volume, and even provide certain subtle effects of swelling of tone and a type of vibrato unique to the clavichord.
