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The evolution of piano holds a firm place in the history of music, but also cultural exchange. Piano keys were played for the first time in the early 18th century, after they were invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori. The sources say this Italian maker of musical instruments created the piano in 1700. It is mentioned in the Medici inventory in Tuscany dated the same year. The entry in this inventory calls the piano an arpicembalo.
The Evolution of Piano
There is not much information about the early life and education of Bartolomeo Cristofori, but it can be assumed that he was in contact with music from an early age. He was born in Padua, Republic of Venice, and there is a legend he served as an apprentice in the workshop of Nicolò Amati, a great violin maker, but that legend isn’t confirmed.
In 1688, at the age of 33, Bartolomeo Cristofori was recruited by Prince Ferdinando de Medici, the son and the heir of Cosimo III, Grand Duke of Tuscany. Cristofori didn’t want to accept this offer, but the Prince gave him an offer he couldn’t refuse, good payment and a place to live. His arpicembalo produced the sounds of “piano” and “forte.” So, playing piano chords was quite different than playing the chords on the popular harpsichord before this invention. The instrument was soon called pianoforte, and it was the direct ancestor of today’s piano.
The invention reflects Cristofori’s cleverness. He created the instrument that, when played, strikes the strings proportional to the force applied by the player. That way diverse volumes and sounds are created. Simply said, when a hammer is pressed, it strikes the string and immediately falls away. That allows the string to resonate freely until releasing the key dampens it again.
Three Models by Cristofori
It is not known how many pianos Cristofori built, but three models dating from the 1720s survived. The first one, located in the Metropolitan Museum of New York, dates back from the 1720s. It shows the change as to how many keys the piano once had. It is narrower and had 54 instead of 88 keys. The strings were thinner and hammer harder. So, the sound resembled the harpsichord more than today’s pianos. The piano is still playable, but its original condition has been lost, so it is not possible to determine its original sound. The model from 1722 had a four octave range. Today it’s not playable because it was damaged by worms. The third model, the one from 1726, is located in the Musikinstrumenten-Museum of Leipzig University. It also has a range of four octaves, but it is not playable. These models had almost all the features of the modern instrument, but the difference is the light construction, the lack of a metal frame, and the lack of the ability to produce especially loud tones.
The Rising Popularity
Initially, the spread of the piano in Italy was slow. Things changed when Queen Maria Barbara de Braganza of Spain, patron and student of Domenico Scarlatti (1685–1757), bought a few of the instruments by Cristofori and his pupil, Giovanni Ferrini. Scarlatti wrote hundreds of pieces for piano. In time, as the instrument developed, many compositions were played on it.
Piano making developed during the late 18th century in Vienna. The manufacturers like Johann Andreas Stein, Nannette Streicher, and Anton Walter built characteristic pianos with wood frames, two strings per note, and leather-covered hammers. In the period c. 1790-1860 the piano saw drastic changes. The sound was more powerful and the construction was of higher quality, thanks to the Industrial Revolution. By the 1820s, the center of piano manufacturing became Paris. Frédéric Chopin used pianos manufactured by Pleyel firm, and Franz Liszt used those manufactured by Érard firm. In 1844 the sostenuto pedal was invented by Jean-Louis Boisselot. Steinway’s firm adopted it in 1874. It allowed a wider range of effects.
Cultural Power
In comparison to previous popular instruments, piano, or earlier, pianoforte, was more dynamic, allowing composers an exploration of new compositions. Its versatility and expressivity facilitated the cross-cultural exchange of music. How the timing of the invention of piano was right, proves its evolution in the age of Romanticism, when it was perfect for expressing diverse emotions.
Whether the compositions were written in minor or major, piano was a favorite instrument of the late 18th and first half of the 19th century. Composers like Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, and Franz Liszt explored new melodic and harmonic ideas. Their written scores and printed music were widely spread across Europe.
In the 19th century salons of Paris, Vienna, London, and other European capitals, piano was the center of attention. It attracted musicians and music lovers, who performed pieces ranging from adaptations of popular folk and opera melodies to new pieces. Salons were important for the career of every ambitious composer who wanted to present his opus to a wider audience.
In time, the piano became more affordable to the middle class, so musical education was an important part of the 19th century lifestyle. Musical sheets and etudes were published widely. The piano’s influence was not confined to Europe. The 19th century immigrants in the northern part of the American continent merged European styles with local tunes, which later influenced other styles like jazz. In South America, the role of piano was similar. The composers from Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires merged local rhythms and melodies with piano tunes that were popular during the late 19th century, thus influencing the creation of familiar rhythms that are classics today.
Apart from bringing a true revolution in music, the piano had a great cultural influence on the whole world. It brought new tunes, rhythms, and emotions to a wider audience that became familiar with the music and culture of the old continent. Piano also influenced creating new music and new cultures in different parts of the world, making them a very valuable part of the world cultural map. Piano was the invention that communicated, connected, and created. And it still does today.
