Piano

The piano evolved to offer dynamic control over volume, playing both piano and forte, and allowing sharp accents. It combined the features of the clavichord and harpsichord.

Around the year 1700, Bartolomeo Cristofori of Italy replaced the plucking mechanism of the harpsichord with a hammer, creating the modern piano.

In 1709, Italian journalist Scipione Maffei visited Bartolomeo Cristofori and later published drawings of Cristofori's new design.

In 1711, the first 'piano e forte' instrument was built by Christofori, featuring his design for a hammer action and revised case design.

One of the three surviving Cristofori pianos is a 1720 model housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This piano showcases the early design and craftsmanship of Bartolomeo Cristofori's innovative instrument.

Another surviving Cristofori piano, dating back to 1722, is located at the Museo degli Strumenti Musicali in Rome. This piano was featured in the Smithsonian Institution's 'Piano 300' exhibit, highlighting the historical significance of Cristofori's work.

In 1725, Maffei's description of Cristofori's action was translated into German and included in Johann Mattheson's Critica musica. This translation was likely read by Gottfried Silbermann, the Saxon court organ builder.

The third surviving Cristofori piano, crafted in 1726, is housed in Leipzig, Germany. This piano represents the continued legacy of Bartolomeo Cristofori's contributions to the development of keyboard instruments.

In 1732, Lodovico Giustini published twelve Sonate da cimbalo di piano e forte, which are considered the earliest music specifically written and published for the piano. The sonatas showcased dynamic gradations like più forte and più piano, which were impossible to execute on a harpsichord.

In 1760, Johannes Zumpe created the first square piano, contributing to the evolution of piano design.

In 1771, English inventor John Broadwood greatly expanded Johann Zumpe's piano design by adding more octaves to cover treble and bass, as well as introducing pedals, enhancing the instrument's capabilities.

By 1775, square pianos had gained popularity in England, Germany, France, and America, becoming the standard for 'English' models.

In 1777, Robert Stodard in London, England, developed the grand action for the first 'Grand Pianoforte', setting the baseline for future grand pianos.

In 1780, Viennese manufacturer Johann Andreas Stein and his daughter, Nanette Stein-Streicher, improved upon the original Schröter action to create a tone for the grand piano that was highly desirable to composers like Mozart and Beethoven.

In 1781, John Broadwood from London revolutionized piano design by relocating the hammer rise to the end of the keys, a change adopted by all pianoforte makers.

In 1801, the renowned classical music composer Ludwig von Beethoven composed the Moonlight Sonata, which is considered one of the most beloved piano pieces in history.

In 1807, a new style of piano known as the Cabinet piano, characterized by its tall box shape, was introduced.

In 1808, inventor Stbastien Erad created the first piano equipped with agraffe, revolutionizing the instrument by allowing more aggressive use of keyboards and hammers. This innovation empowered famous classical composers like Beethoven, Mozart, and Liszt to craft their masterpieces.

In 1811, Robert Wornum from London, England introduced an upright piano with diagonal strings, revolutionizing the sound quality and action of upright pianos for future generations.

In 1821, Parisian Sebastian Erard patented the 'double escapement' or repetition mechanism for pianos. This innovation allowed for rapid repetition by enabling a hammer to hit the string again before the key returned to its original position.

In 1823, Jonas Chickering opened his piano company in Boston, where he further developed Alpheus Babcock's work by introducing a full iron frame for the grand piano. Chickering's contributions played a key role in the evolution of piano manufacturing.

In 1825, American piano maker Alpheus Babcock was granted a patent for his invention of a full cast iron plate for a square piano. This innovation removed string tension from the wooden case, marking a significant advancement in piano construction.

A Tischner grand piano built around 1826 specifically for Tsar Nicholas I was part of the Russia exhibit in the Europe Gallery.

The first piano made by Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg in 1836, which later led to the establishment of the renowned piano company Steinway & Sons.

In 1838, Sebastian Erard finished his engineering to the piano action and invented the capo tasto, a pressure bar near where the strings were fastened to the frame that improved the tone of grand pianos.

In 1850, Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg immigrated to America with his sons to pursue his passion for creating a better piano. Three years later, he officially established Steinway & Sons after changing his name to Henry E. Steinway.

In 1853, the Steinway piano company was established, known for producing some of the best pianos in history. The company continues to operate successfully to this day.

In 1855, Steinway & Sons introduced a famous square piano with a full iron frame at the World’s Fair in New York, revolutionizing piano design with exceptional sound quality and a new overstrung scale.

In 1859, Steinway & Sons created the first overstrung grand piano, a significant innovation in piano design.

By 1860, the majority of square pianos in Europe were being replaced by upright pianos due to urbanization and the need for smaller, more compact pianos in urban spaces and homes.

By 1880, upright pianos had completely taken over the production market in America, leading to the decline of square pianos. Despite defying acoustic laws, upright pianos became popular for their practicality and space-saving design.

An 1886 Steinway Model C grand piano was located outside the Europe Gallery in Upper El Río.

An Erard grand piano from 1889 was featured in the Rediscover Treasures special exhibition at the Target Gallery.

In 1909, piano sales reached 365,000 units, indicating a significant increase in the popularity and accessibility of pianos to the middle class.

Roberta Flack's Steinway Model A grand piano from 1922 was displayed in the Artist Gallery.

In 1938, the 300,000th Steinway piano was presented to President Franklin D. Roosevelt on behalf of the Steinway family. This instrument was intended to replace the 100,000th Steinway that was gifted to the White House in 1903.

The introduction of high-quality, affordable pianos from Asia, like Kawai and Yamaha, revolutionized the piano market post-WWII. These imports raised quality standards and affordability expectations, causing a decline in domestic North American piano brands. The competition from Asian manufacturers reshaped the industry dynamics significantly.

The Fender Rhodes electric piano was invented in 1946. It uses keys and hammers to make sound by striking thin metal tines, which vibrate next to an electromagnetic pickup.

The clavichord, like the piano, allowed detailed gradations of loud and soft controlled by the player's touch. However, it was overall very soft and could barely be heard a few feet away, making it unsuitable for ensembles or concerts.

Piano Day is a worldwide event celebrated on March 29th, dedicated to piano lovers. It coincides with the 88th day of the year, symbolizing the 88 keys on a standard piano.

A giveaway event where participants can win a restored 1924 Steinway Grand piano worth $50,000 and $10,000 cash. Participants need to provide their name and email to enter the giveaway.