| If you're thinking of taking piano lessons -- or if you | | | | composed and published for piano, Mozart's music has |
| already take them -- it's a good idea to learn | | | | always been a major selling point for the instrument. |
| something about the long musical tradition in which you | | | | By the time Mozart passed away in 1791, the Industrial |
| will be participating. After all, nobody's choice to play | | | | Revolution had begun to take hold of Europe, |
| piano is made in a vacuum. No, we decide to learn the | | | | dramatically transforming all aspects of life, including |
| instrument because of its special musical qualities and | | | | music and the arts. In the early 1800s, technological |
| its unique history. | | | | progress allowed the piano to evolve almost wholly |
| Unlike piano-playing children, whose lessons are often | | | | into the modern instrument we play today. |
| strongly urged upon them by parents, adult piano | | | | Advancements in technology related to the piano's |
| players like to have as much knowledge about our | | | | steel strings and iron frame came just in time for use in |
| instrument as possible. Such knowledge not only | | | | Beethoven's later works. Some musical historians have |
| enhances the experience of playing, but it also | | | | even suggested that the amazing musical and acoustic |
| motivates us to play with care and respect for our | | | | genius of Beethoven's final works simply would not |
| piano masters. This is true for both those who read | | | | have been possible earlier in the composer's life. This is |
| music and those who play by ear. | | | | thanks to changes made to the piano, the instrument |
| Most piano players are aware that the instrument's | | | | that Beethoven loved above all others. |
| modern name is actually a shortened version of its | | | | By the end of the 1800s, the piano had all but fully |
| original name, "pianoforte," which is a compound of the | | | | developed into the instrument we have now. This is |
| Italian words for "soft" and "loud." This name was given | | | | why piano works by Romantic and Modernist |
| to the new instrument in order to differentiate it from | | | | composers such as Chopin, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, |
| its forbear instrument, the harpsichord, whose volume | | | | Debussy, and Stravinsky sound as if they could have |
| range is far less flexible than that of the piano. | | | | been written today. Also, thanks to the instrument's |
| While earlier instruments such as the harpsichord | | | | unprecedented power and range, as well as |
| generate sound by plucking strings, the piano was the | | | | groundbreaking piano works by Beethoven and others, |
| first instrument to successfully generate sound by | | | | these composers were able to expand the instrument |
| striking strings. Invented around 1700 by the Paduan | | | | far beyond its early, harpsichord-influenced repertoire. |
| instrument-maker Bartolomeo Cristofori, the | | | | In short, the vast range of 20th century music -- from |
| revolutionary mechanism of the piano, with hammers | | | | traditional compositions, to experimental orchestral |
| that return to the rest position immediately after striking, | | | | music, to jazz, blues, and rock music -- would not have |
| made possible a far greater degree of control and | | | | been possible without the piano. |
| nuance than previous instruments. | | | | And here we are today, proudly carrying the piano |
| With good reason, second-generation pianos -- which | | | | tradition into the 21st century. As you already know, |
| came soon after Cristofori's and his followers' | | | | the piano is now commonplace in middle-class |
| groundbreaking developments -- are commonly | | | | American households. Many children grow up listening |
| referred to as "Mozart-era" pianos. Mozart, whose | | | | to their parents play, and many become pianists |
| work was both the pinnacle and the embodiment of | | | | themselves at a very early age. Plus, as scientific |
| music during the second half of the 18th century, was | | | | studies continue to show the health benefits of playing |
| an immensely popular figure even in his time. His | | | | music throughout life, recent years have seen a surge |
| decision to play, compose for, and perform on the | | | | in adult music. Because of its beauty, simplicity, |
| piano did more to popularize the instrument than any | | | | versatility, and its long and storied history, the piano is |
| other single person has done. Because so many of his | | | | the top choice for budding adult musicians. |
| works, great and small, popular and obscure, were | | | | |