Monday, January 5, 2009

What is The History of the Piano?

By J. Simon

The piano has evolved over the centuries as a keyboard instrument that has increased in size over the years. A pianist presses the keys, that have hammers which are covered with cloth which in turn hits the tightened strings after the key is pressed. After the keys are struck, then the hammers are released so that strings start a series of sound vibrations.

After the pianist presses the key, a part inside the piano stops the sound from reverberating. While the key sounds, it transmits to the soundboard which amplifies the sound of the keys. The piano player is able to play different pitches depending on the keys played with differing degrees of loudness or softness and the duration of the notes held can be controlled by the damper pedal.

In traditional Western music, the piano is put to a wide variety of uses: for solo performance, ensemble recitals, chamber music, and as accompaniment for vocals or other instrument scores. It is also amongst the most popular instrumental aids for composing and rehearsing music. Although the piano is large and usually rather expensive, its versatility and indispensability have contributed to its status as the perhaps the most familiar and ubiquitous among musical instruments.

The term piano also means Pianoforte a more official term that translate from the Italian to the words soft and loud. The piano can have the capacity to be played from very soft to very loud, hence the name Pianoforte. The instrument piano developed from the old instrument Harpsichord by Bartolomeo Cristofori in Italy, and became a much loved musical instrument during the 18th century.

The modern day piano developed over the centuries from the harp an old instrument before Christ's time. Originally, the was and still is a plucked string instrument the gave birth to the piano. Keys were struck on the strings instead of being plucked in the very early keyboard instruments preceding the modern piano, which is the main difference between the harp and piano.

Musician and inventor Cristofori initiated the invention with designs of the harpsichord the instrument that preceded the piano. The instrument was far from perfect, but the harpsichord was the accepted instrument for music of the Baroque era and popular with composers like J.S. Bach and George Handel. The harpsichord evolved into the piano as we know it into the 19th century and made popular with virtuoso works by Chopin and Liszt.

The harpsichord's inventor aimed for an instrument that would carry colorful high pitches and deep low notes. The piano was built to have hammers that were controlled, use steel strings, and remodel the resonators and fret board so that the sound emanating from the keyboard was much more dramatic than the simple harpsichord. Double key escapement allowed notes to sound again while the hammer did not return to resting position.

The real development of the piano occurred around the 19th century with the invention of felt hammers which helped the strings resonate better, better steel wires, and more superior frames for the sounding board. The piano was built into the upright styles in the 19th century which was a smaller version of the much larger grand piano. This change made the piano much more affordable for more families and more people had the opportunity to learn the instrument. - 15485

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