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