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