Music: Harpsichord and Jazz

To ears that like it, the music of the 18th-Century harpsichord rustles sweetly, subtly, with a wealth of tonal color. To ears that don't, its clucks and scratches sound like a hen yard. The strings of the harpsichord, controlled by a full keyboard and pedals, are plucked by quills, instead of being struck by hammers like the piano's. For an oldtimer, the harpsichord is still stepping lively. Last week Vienna-born Yella Pessl, who has given 70-odd harpsichord programs on the radio (CBS) since last June, returned to the air after a brief vacation. While she was away, her place had been...

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