Editing Virginals (section)

== History ==
Like the harpsichord, the virginals has its origins in the [[psaltery]], to which a [[Musical keyboard|keyboard]] was applied, probably in the 15th century. The first mention of the word is in Paulus Paulirinus of Prague's (1413–1471) ''Tractatus de musica'', of around 1460, where he writes: "The virginal is an instrument in the shape of a clavichord, having metal strings which give it the timbre of a clavicembalo. It has 32 courses of strings set in motion by striking the fingers on projecting keys, giving a dulcet tone in both whole and half steps. It is called a virginal because, like a virgin, it sounds with a gentle and undisturbed voice." The [[Oxford English Dictionary]] records its first mention in English in 1530, when King [[Henry VIII|Henry VIII of England]] purchased five instruments so named. Small, early virginals were played either in the lap, or more commonly, rested on a table,<ref>{{cite book | last=Dearling | first=Robert | title=The ultimate encyclopedia of musical instruments | publisher=Carlton | date=1996 | isbn=1-85868-185-5 | oclc=37009422}}/</ref> but nearly all later examples were provided with their own stands. The heyday of the virginals was the latter half of the 16th century to the later 17th century, until the high [[Baroque music|Baroque period]], when it was eclipsed in England by the [[Spinet|bentside spinet]], and in Germany, by the [[clavichord]].