A brief Look at the history of the Piano and Keyboard Instruments
Somewhere along the line most all of my students have heard me mention that the piano was referred to as the fortepiano or pianoforte for it’s capability to play loud and soft. Earlier keyboard instruments gave little if no variation in dynamic level (or loudness and softness). Today, the modern piano is called the pianoforte and the instrument up until the late 19th century is referred to as the fortepiano. The first instruments were designed by a harpsichord maker (harpsichords were an earlier keyboard instrument). The harpsichord makers name was Bartolomo Christofori.
According to wikipedia.org
The fortepiano has leather-covered hammers and thin, harpsichord-like strings. It has a much lighter case construction than the modern piano and, except for later examples of the early nineteenth century (already evolving towards the modern piano), it has no metal frame or bracing. The action and hammers are lighter, giving rise to a much lighter touch, which in good fortepianos is also very responsive.
The modern piano has steel strings and felt hammers and a much more even sound across it’s range than the earlier fortepiano.
Other early keyboard instruments in addition to the Harpsichord were the organ and clavichord. in the clavichord the strings are actually struck with a small metal “blade”, the harpsichord relies on strings to be plucked by the action of the keys. Of course, the modern piano relies on the hammers striking the strings. The Pipe organ has a history that goes back as far as the 3rd century BC in Greece. The keyboard itself was “finalized” more recently in the 15th century or so.
Today, there are a wide variety of electronic keyboards, digital pianos, sophisticated organs that all share a common legacy.
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