Invented by : Bartolomeo Cristofori
Invented in year : 1709
The Piano is a musical instrument which is played by means of a keyboard. It is widely used in Western music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music, and accompaniment. A Piano is played by pressing the keys with the fingers of both hands. The standard Piano of today has 88 keys, the three foot pedals also has specific functions. The pedal on the right is called a damper, stepping on this causes all the keys to vibrate or sustain. Stepping on the pedal in the middle causes only the keys currently pressed to vibrate. Stepping on the pedal on the left creates a muted sound; a single note is produced from 2 or three Piano strings that are tuned in unison.
History of the Invention
Bartolomeo Cristofori di Francesco (May 4, 1655 - January 27, 1731) was an Italian maker of musical instruments. He is generally regarded as the inventor of the Piano. In 1688, at age 33, he was recruited to work for Prince Ferdinando de Medici. take care of his many musical instruments. At this time, the most popular keyboard instruments were the Harpsichord and the Clavichord. Both of these instruments resembled the modern day Piano, but their sound was produced by plucking the strings. When the keys of the harpsichord were depressed, a small metal hook would pluck the appropriate wire string to produce a particular tone. A major drawback of the Harpsichord, however, was the inability to control the loudness of each note, and composers for this instrument were unable to evoke emotion through its design.
Keyboard enthusiasts and manufacturer's at that time sought an instrument with the power of the Harpsichord along with the volume control mechanism of the Clavichord. Eventually Cristofori came up with the brilliant idea of replacing the wire hooks of the two instruments with leather padded hammers. The result was an instrument that played both Piano (soft) and forte (loud). The new keyboard became known as the Pianoforte was invented in 1709. Over the years the term Pianoforte was shortened to Piano.
Advancements in the Invention of Piano
Cristofori's Piano served as a role model for the many different approaches to Piano modifications and improvements. From 1790 to the mid 1800s, Piano technology and sound was greatly improved due to the inventions of the Industrial Revolution, such as: the new high quality steel called Piano wire, and the ability to precisely cast iron frames. The tonal range of the Piano increased from the five octaves of the Pianoforte to the seven and more octaves found on modern Pianos.
Upright / Vertical Piano - Around 1780, the upright Piano was created by Johann Schmidt of Salzburg, Austria and later improved in 1802 by Thomas Loud of London whose upright Piano had strings that ran diagonally.
Automatic Piano Player - A later Automatic Piano Player was the Angelus patented by Edward H. Leveaux of England on 27 February 1879, and described as an "apparatus for storing and transmitting motive power." John McTammany's invention was actually the earlier one invented (1876), however, the patents dates are in the opposite order due to filing procedures.
Player Piano - In 1881, an early patent for a Piano player was issued to John McTammany of Cambridge, Mass. John McTammany described his invention as a "mechanical musical instrument." It worked using narrow sheets of perforated flexible paper which triggered the notes.
Electric Piano - On March 28, 1889, William Fleming received a patent for a player Piano using electricity.
New Models - By the 1940s, ‘Baby Grands’ and ‘Spinets’ were the two most popular Piano models and are the Pianos of choice for modern day consumers.
Role of Piano in the Improvement Of Human Life
- Piano served as a popular source of entertainment
- It became an Art form and various institutions sprang up which facilitated this art
- It's R&D activities became a source of economic value
