| s are one of those musical instruments that can be | | | | his designed pianos and the modern ones. While his |
| rightly termed as ‘classy’. With a great | | | | early made pianos carried thin strings and quieter note |
| historical background to its name, pianos form the soul | | | | in comparison to modern pianos, they were actually |
| of western music, preferably for solo performances, | | | | much louder and had greater sustaining power. |
| chamber music, and accompaniment. Not withstanding | | | | However, Cristofori's piano did not attain instant |
| their huge size and expense, pianos lend an amazing | | | | recognition until an Italian writer, Scipione Maffei, wrote |
| aid for rehearsals and music compositions. The | | | | an interesting article about it. This article inspired |
| universal popularity of pianos makes us wonder about | | | | several builders who took up piano building as their |
| some of the unique facts that have not yet been | | | | profession. One such organ builder, Gottfried |
| brought to limelight. | | | | Silbermann, made few modifications to Cristofori's |
| The word 'piano' is an Italian derivation of | | | | model, consequently leading the way for the invention |
| gravicèmbalo col piano e forte (literally | | | | of the modern damper pedal, which lifts all the |
| harpsichord with soft and loud tone); later abbreviated | | | | dampers from the strings at one go. |
| from 'pianoforte'. Historical records credit the invention | | | | The 18th century saw further development in the field |
| of the piano to a single individual named Bartolomeo | | | | of piano-making business, with Johann Andreas Stein, |
| Cristofori of Padua, Italy. Infact, the famous Medici | | | | Nannette Stein, and Anton Walter carrying the tradition |
| family owned a piano in the year 1700. There are now | | | | forward. The Viennese style pianos were built with |
| three Cristofori pianos from the 1720’s that | | | | wooden frames and leather-covered hammers. |
| have survived the onslaught of time. | | | | Purchasing a piano was an expensive affair and |
| The piano was invented in line with other technological | | | | beyond the reach of most of the families. As such, |
| inventions. The keyboard instrument mechanisms, | | | | they came to be associated with the gentry and the |
| including the clavichord and the harpsichord, were quite | | | | aristocracy. The number of piano dealers slowly grew |
| well known. Cristofori was himself an expert | | | | in number as they found an excellent business |
| harpsichord maker and he invested his expertise in | | | | opportunity in this field. However, it is for the great |
| inventing the piano with great success. | | | | composer Mozart that pianos came to acquire |
| The design of the piano posed some problems to the | | | | worldwide acclaim. Historical records testify that |
| maker. For instance, the hammers were not to remain | | | | Mozart used the piano for composing his concertos |
| in contact with the string to avoid dampening of the | | | | and sonatas, where he used pianos with a softer, |
| sound. Besides, the hammers were to return to their | | | | cleaner tone than the modern pianos available. With |
| rest position without any violent bounce, thereby | | | | the flow of time, this musical instrument began to gain |
| making rapid note repetition possible. Cristofori showed | | | | universal popularity and opened the door into the world |
| the way to future piano makers through his piano | | | | of classical music. |
| action. However, there is a subtle difference between | | | | |