How is sound from a harpsichord produced?

In a harpsichord, the strings are plucked by quills, which are small pieces of leather attached to plectrums made of wood or bone. When a key is pressed, a lever called a jack raises a quill which plucks the string, producing a bright, clear tone. The key also opens a damper, allowing the string to vibrate freely until it is dampened again by the action of the jack falling back into place. The strength of the quill's pluck determines the volume of the sound produced, and the pitch of the sound is determined by the length and tension of the string.