Page "Clavichord" Paragraph 19

While clavichords were typically single manual instruments, they could be stacked to provide multiple keyboards.

With the addition of a pedal clavichord, which included a pedal keyboard for the lower notes, a clavichord could be used to practice organist repertoire.

In the era of pipe organs which used hand-pumped blowers, and of churches which were only heated during church services, organists used pedal harpsichords and pedal clavichords as practice instruments ( see also: pedal piano ).

There is speculation that some works written for organ may have been intended for pedal clavichord.

An interesting case is made by that Bach's " Eight Little Preludes and Fugues ", now thought to be spurious, may actually be authentic.

The keyboard writing seems unsuited to organ, but Speerstra argues that they are idiomatic on the pedal clavichord.

As Speerstra and also note, the compass of the keyboard parts of Bach's six organ trio sonatas BWV 525 – 530 rarely go below the tenor C, so could have been played on a single manual pedal clavichord, by moving the left hand down an octave, a customary practice in the 18th century.