From Bartolomeo Cristofori to Steinway & Sons, the history of the piano in its humble beginnings almost fell in near obscurity; however, it succeeded and became the instrument that today delights the hearts of every person listening to it. But how did the piano become so popular, and what is its history? Let\u2019s find out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The history of the piano keyboard comes from the first hammered piano-like instrument(s) such as dulcimers, used since the middle ages in Europe. During that time, there were many attempts to create a keyboard instrument with hammered strings (1<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several years passed, and during the 17th-century, instruments such as the clavichord and the harpsichord were developed. Both the clavi and the harpsi used plucking instead of striking, i.e., the clavichord used a brass tangent, and the harpsichord used quills, both activated when pressing the keys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After putting centuries of work into the piano background mechanism of the harpsichord, builders were shown the most effective way to construct everything from the case to the soundboard, bridge, and mechanical actions needed to sound the strings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first keyboard instrument to be used in music was the organ (the ones found in churches). The future inventors used the technological advances of that instrument to further their knowledge into what would become the modern piano. But what is the piano\u2019s definition?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The piano music definition: Piano, in theoretical terms, means to play quietly, and this is the reason that Cristofori named it the \u201cpianoforte\u201d because it could play very softly and quietly and loudly as well, and when the modern age came, it was renamed as the piano. This term is used in both instrumental piano music and in orchestral, jazz, and rock music. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The first piano and the history of the piano are attributed to Bartolomeo Cristofori di Padua, Italia. Ferdinando de Medici employed him as keeper of the Instruments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being a master builder of the harpsichord and acquainted with the knowledge of stringed keyboard instruments helped him develop the first piano ever made called the Cristofori pianoforte (2<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thus, the pianoforte history had its birthplace in Italy. Before inventing the oldest piano, Cristofori had already designed and built two keyboard instruments like the later Cristofori pianoforte.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first-ever \u201cpiano\u201d was the spinettone (big spinet in Italian), which used slanted strings to save space. More than likely, the first piano invented was meant to fit into a crowded orchestral pit for theatre performances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The inventor of the piano designed it with a harpsichord-style body, but with hammers that had to strike the string, but also had to not remain in contact as it would dampen the sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thus, the earliest piano hammers had to retract to their original starting position without bouncing around in the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His mechanism, which helped in the development of the piano, is still used and has been used for centuries in the history of keyboard instruments, but they have also been upgraded through the ages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The appearance of new materials such as plastics and felt made the instruments last even longer, and thus the first-ever piano doesn\u2019t resemble modern pianos so much now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also read<\/strong>: Music Streaming Statistics (US & Global Data)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s talk about the different shapes of the piano (3<\/a>). Some are still being used today, like the grand or the upright, but some have run their course, such as the: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Created by Silbermann and Frederici and improved upon by Petzold and Babcock, the square pianos from both Britain and Vienna were built in different designs, from the action used to their physical appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the 19th<\/sup> century, the square grand piano invention predominated, even though upright pianos gradually replaced it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They were owned by everyone starting from George Washington to Jane Austen, Marie Antoinette to Thomas Jefferson and others, just to name a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seen as a \u201cprototype piano\u201d because it didn\u2019t have much volume, range, or delicacy of touch, they have a signature sound and playability. They should be respected and treated as different instruments altogether. If the piano\u2019s inventor were alive during our time, he most certainly would scratch his head at the sight of how his grand creations morphed in shapes and design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have a prominent dampening mechanism called the \u201coverdamper action\u201d and the term birdcage comes from the wires at the front of the piano which give the impression of a metal cage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Its front above the keyboard is shaped symmetrically to a Greek lyre, evoking the Grecian god Apollo and musician Orpheus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Usually decorated with gilded ornaments, \u201clion\u2019s paws\u201d on the legs and a choice between a carved eagle\/ dog\/ griffin heads atop the lyre\u2019s arms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The strings are angled upright towards the right to fit behind the lyre. Arranged in similar fashion to an upright piano, but using evocative shaped bodies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It has an asymmetrical wing shaped case for the strings, usually fitted with pedals which activate different \u201cexotic effects\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Almost fading into obscurity, Cristofori\u2019s pianoforte remained unknown. That was until Scipione Maffei wrote a very enthused article (1711) in which he included a diagram of the piano instruments\u2019 mechanism (4<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of the next generations of piano builders started from the template from Maffei\u2019s article. Gottfried Silbermann, known organ maker, made virtually identical copies of Cristofori\u2019s design of the first piano made. Still, he also included the predecessor invention of the piano sustain pedal, which lifted all the dampening off of the strings simultaneously, which allowed the piano player to sustain the notes even after their fingers had come off the keys. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most known baroque composers, J.S. Bach, was presented as one of Silbermann\u2019s early instruments but disliked it at first as the higher notes were too soft to allow a full dynamic range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This criticism helped Silbermann devise a better instrument, and Bach became one of his selling agents, saying \u201cInstrument: piano et forte genandt\u201d (which translates to Instrument: plays soft and loud).<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the late 18th<\/sup> century, piano-making had flourished in the Viennese School (Beethoven, Haydn, and Mozart).<\/p>\n\n\n\n These early pianos were built with wooden frames, had two strings per note, and the hammers were covered in leather, and the keys were in negative to the modern grand piano ( meaning the black keys were the natural notes and the white keys were the accidentals). The piano\u2019s full name, or the real piano name, is clavicembalo col piano e forte, which was later shortened. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the 70-year history of piano, between 1790 and 1860, the classical period piano of the Mozart-era underwent many changes that upgraded the instrument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Composers and pianists wanted to have a deeper, more powerful and sustained sound for their pianos. This was the Industrial Revolution response, which made possible the acquirement of high-quality piano wires for strings, precision casting for iron frames, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over time, the piano had grown up from the 5-octave range of the 18th<\/sup> century to the 7-octave and beyond tonal range. <\/p>\n\n\n\n During the 1700s, many technological advances were being made in the musical instrument area. Many of those advances are owed to modern piano creator John Broadwood, Robert Stoddart, and Americus Backers which designed a piano in the harpsichord case (the origin of the Grand Piano).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Quickly gaining reputation, Broadwood sent pianos that were larger, louder, and more robust to Joseph Haydn and Ludwig van Beethoven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These pianos were the first with a range higher than five octaves (5 and 1\/5 -the 1790s, 6 octaves \u2013 1810, seven octaves \u2013 1820).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Viennese makers followed these trends but had slightly different piano actions (i.e., Broadwood = robust action \/ Viennese = more sensitive)<\/p>\n\n\n\n After Vienna, the piano innovation center moved to Paris, where Frederic Chopin started to use Pleyel Pianos, and Franz Liszt used \u00c9rard (5<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n This part from the history of pianos will present all the different components which make up the piano story with over 12000 individual parts, supporting six functional features: keyboard, hammers, dampeners, bridge, soundboard, and strings (6<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Originally, the piano\u2019s keyboard was similar to the one on the harpsichord, with black ebony keys being the natural notes and the white keys made out of ivory or wood covered in a strip of ivory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Made out of wood and covered in leather (early pianos) or in dense wool felt. They are voiced in order to compensate for the gradual hardening of the felt and the other parts such as the bridge and soundboard and strings may need maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These keep the strings from ringing out too much, but back in the 1700s, a known organ maker created the predecessor to the modern to the sustain pedal, releasing these dampeners in perfect sync to let the strings ring out in a \u201ccontrolled\u201d environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The part of the piano which enables it to produce the vibrant sounds and the signature sound. It can be ornate or simple. This is the base on which the frame inside the piano sits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on the length of these strings, the piano may have a more vibrant and loud sound. For example, there are longer strings in grand pianos that have a larger and richer sound and more inharmonicity of strings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The piano is used in a variety of genres. Starting from the classical period with Mozart and all the way until the present day, and apart from delighting our senses, it also improves our cognitive functions, thus holding a very important role (7<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are used for both solo performances and along with other instruments, such as orchestras, jazz bands, chamber music ensembles, rock bands, etc. A considerable number of composers and songwriters are very good pianists, as the keyboard of the piano offers an effective way of experimenting with complex harmonics and interplay of chords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pianos are used by film scorers, bandleaders, and choir conductors as it is an excellent tool for new pieces and is a practical song leading medium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Noted musicians who play\/played the piano: Franz Liszt, Frederic Chopin, J.S. Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, Schubert, Samuel Barber, Freddie Mercury, John Williams, and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u201ctrending\u201d pianos varied between Europe, the USA, and other countries, until becoming one in the modern age. In the USA, especially in the 1700s, predominant was the square piano, while in Europe, predominant was the Piano of the Romantic Era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ever-changing, pianos are now hailed across the world as a major player in compositions and early music pieces, much like its brethren, the harpsichord and clavichord. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe very first piano <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Variations in shape and design <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Square <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Birdcage <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lyre <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pyramid <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Giraffe <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Early fortepiano<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Modern piano <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fundamental piano components<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Keyboard<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hammers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dampeners<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Soundboard<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Strings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The role of the piano<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Piano evolution timeline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n