Bach on a Clavichord

Here is the Toccata from Bach's 6th Partita in e minor played on a clavichord. The clavichord was a common instrument found in many homes from the 16th century to the 18th century in Germany. We often hear Bach's music played on a harpsichord, since much of his music was written for the instrument. However, hearing his music played on a clavichord is more rare. In contrast with the harpsichord, the player can control dynamics and even a type of vibrato making it capable of playing a more cantabile melody. This would probably lead one to wonder why the clavichord was used less as a performance instrument then and is used much less now. Its small size and soft volume made it a convenient home tool for composition and thus made it impractical for public performance. Above is a picture of a clavichord from Bach's birthplace home in Eisenach.