Vir'ga

Same as A tonele keyboard instr. for mechanical pfte. ractice, inv. by A. K. Virgil, of New Vork, in 1883 (see Tech nip hone), I differs e entially from the old dumb piano in 2 features: (1) The depre ion, and also the release, of a digital produces a mild click like that of a telegraph-key; this furnishes a means for accurately timing the practice, for acquiring promptne of down-stroke and up-stroke, and for determining the different styles of touch (e. g. for the strict /egato the click on depre ing one digital exactly coincides with the release-click of the one preceding); (2) it affords, by a simple mechanical adjustment, 6 gradations in the weight o the touch, from 2 to 20 ounces—i. e. from the very lightest pfte.-touch up tc 5 times that of the average pfte.-action, or more than the heaviest organ-touch Vir’ginal, A small kind of harpsichord: often written in the plural form as ‘2 pair of virginals”, signifying merely 2 single instr. (Comp. Pianoforte.)