What is the primary role of the harpsichord in Baroque performance?

The primary role of the harpsichord in Baroque performance is to realize harmonies indicated by figured bass. During the Baroque period, a common practice was the use of figured bass, a form of musical notation in which numbers and symbols were used to indicate chords and intervals above a given bass line. The harpsichordist would interpret these figures, providing the harmonic foundation for the ensemble or soloists.

In this context, the harpsichord functioned as a continuo instrument, supporting and enriching the music by filling in chords and harmonies, allowing other instruments or voices to carry the melodic lines. This collaborative approach was essential in Baroque music, where the interplay and textural balance among instruments were central to the performance aesthetic.

While the harpsichord could play solos and provide accompaniment to vocal lines, those roles were secondary to its primary function of harmonic realization. It was not typically used to compose new melodies in the same way that a composer would for orchestral or solo works. Therefore, the essence of its role in this period centered on harmonizing and underlining the musical texture, which is encapsulated in the task of realizing figured bass.