piano history – The London Piano Institute https://www.londonpianoinstitute.co.uk Piano Lessons for Adults Mon, 12 May 2025 12:17:40 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.3 When Music Meets Masterpiece: The Piano as a Piece of Art https://www.londonpianoinstitute.co.uk/the-piano-as-a-piece-of-art/ Mon, 12 May 2025 10:37:01 +0000 https://www.londonpianoinstitute.co.uk/?p=28697

With every brushstroke, an artist brings their masterpiece to life — revealing beauty layer by layer.

Similarly, piano makers and designers sculpt their instruments not only to produce sound, but to inspire awe with their visual elegance.

Music is art, a phrase quite often used to describe the beauty thereof.

The Oxford dictionary describes art as the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power.

Yet somehow the word art does not feel powerful enough to truly captivate the majesty of the piano — both audibly and visually.

In this article, the progression of the piano and its design will be discussed.

Portrait of Bartolomeo Cristofori

Photo credit: “Portrait of Bartolomeo Cristofori, inventor of the piano” by Unknown author. Licensed under Public Domain.

When Music Meets Design

Around the year 1700, Bartolomeo Cristofori (a genius Italian maker of instruments), the revolutionary piano was born.

Pianos have come a long way in terms of design, structure, aesthetics and more.

The following reveals a timeline of the most notable innovators and inventors and the impact they made on piano regarding its functionality and design.

The 1720 Cristofori piano

1700s: The First Piano

The lack of controlling the dynamics spurred on Cristofori to invent a harpsichord, replacing the usual plucking mechanism with a hammer which created the first piano.

Thus it resembled a harpsichord.

It has a plain, wing-shaped exterior with a single keyboard and no special stops which can alter the tone.

On the outside, it pretty much looked exactly like a harpsichord, but had a totally different interior.

Cristofori called it a “gravicembalo col piano e forte” which translates to “harpsichord with soft and loud” — allowing pianists to now have dynamic control.

An 1810 Broadwood grand piano

Photo credit: “John Broadwood, London, 1810 – Musical Instrument Museum, Brussels – IMG 3841” by Daderot. Licensed under Public Domain.

Late 1700s – Early 1800s: Classical Refinement and Development

The case and structure design of the piano slowly but surely becomes more elegant, with veneered woods and modest ornamentation.

A sudden shift in the demand for harpsichords has changed drastically, as all the more upright pianos begin appearing in people’s homes.

A fine craftsman named John Broadwood married Barbara, the daughter of Burkat Shudi — who owned a business in making harpsichords.

Later on, Shudi handed over the running of his business to both his son and John Broadwood.

After Shudi’s passing, the business became his son’s and his son-in-law’s.

By popular demand, due to the shift the invention of the piano caused, Broadwood found himself making more pianos than harpsichords!

He continued to develop the piano, improving the bass tone.

Today the business is known as Broadwood & Sons, and claims to be the oldest established manufacturer in the world.

Sébastian Érard, a brilliant piano and harp maker, specialised in the production of these instruments, enabling him to develop the capacities of both.

He contributed to grand piano engineering and revolutionized the construction of the grand style of piano.

Érard pioneered a grand piano mechanism that laid the groundwork for the modern grand action we know today.

His invention of the “double escapement” system, which introduced a repetition lever, made it possible to strike the same note rapidly without fully releasing the key — a major leap beyond earlier single-action designs.

And that was just one of his many forward-thinking contributions to piano technology.

First Steinway piano (1836)

Photo credit: “First Steinway piano (1836) in the Musical Instrument Museum” by Cullen328. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Mid 1800s: Romantic Era

During the Romantic Period in Europe, pianos became a symbol of wealth and sophistication. Art case pianos featured intricate woodwork, gilded carvings, and floral inlays.

Steinway & Sons, now one of the world’s leading piano makers, unveiled the first square piano featuring a groundbreaking scale design that dramatically improved sound quality — setting a new standard that future manufacturers would follow.

Pianos evolved from square pianos with horizontal strings to more compact upright models with vertical strings.

Yet the increasing demand for compact upright models soon replaced all square pianos, thanks to the rapidly growing industrialized city planning that led to smaller urban spaces.

Old fashioned upright piano

1900s: Minimalism and Mass Production

As pianos became more accessible to the growing middle class during the 19th century, their popularity soared.

Instruments of this era were often highly ornate, crafted from luxurious, dark exotic woods such as Honduran Mahogany and Brazilian Rosewood, perfectly mirroring the Victorian era’s preference for rich, elaborate designs.

However, by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was a gradual shift in aesthetic tastes, with the demand for lighter finishes like oak and walnut beginning to increase.

Technological advancements brought significant changes to piano manufacturing.

The Industrial Revolution allowed the transition from individually handcrafted instruments to more efficient factory production.

This shift led to greater standardisation, making pianos more affordable and giving rise to simpler, more streamlined designs.

By the late 20th century, the emergence of digital pianos further transformed the landscape, offering a modern alternative that blended technological innovation with musical tradition.

Modern grand piano

2000s – Present: The Piano as a Masterpiece

Recently, piano design has entered an exciting new era, with designers teaming up with artists and architects to create modern, eye-catching instruments that are as much works of art as they are musical tools.

While classic wood finishes like mahogany, ebony, and walnut remain popular, there has been a noticeable shift toward bold and contemporary colour options — including white, grey, red, and even metallic finishes.

Some brands have pushed boundaries even further, producing stunning transparent acrylic or crystal pianos that turn heads in both private homes and concert halls.

This creative wave took off in the early 2000s, as cultural trends began to embrace individuality and artistic expression more openly.

That spirit of innovation extended to the piano world, where manufacturers began offering more luxurious, unconventional, and intricately designed instruments — reflecting both technological advancements and changing aesthetic tastes.

Technician repairing piano

Conclusion

The piano has undergone significant changes in both exterior and interior design. It truly is a piece of art — a blank canvas, waiting eagerly for someone to bring it to life.

RESOURCES:

1.1: What Is Art? – Humanities LibreTexts

A brief history of john broadwood & sons pianos (no date) History of John Broadwood & Sons Pianos. Available at: https://broadwood.co.uk/history.html (Accessed: 16 April 2025).

The evolution of the modern piano (facts, photos and Timeline): Blog: Lindeblad Piano (no date) Lindebladpiano. Available at: https://www.lindebladpiano.com/blog/history-of-the-piano (Accessed: 15 April 2025).

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Piano Hall of Fame: London’s Greatest Pianists Through the Ages https://www.londonpianoinstitute.co.uk/greatest-pianists-through-the-ages/ Thu, 06 Mar 2025 08:54:53 +0000 https://www.londonpianoinstitute.co.uk/?p=28502

Exciting pianists have impacted British piano music over the years, showcasing exceptional virtuosity.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate some of these brilliant pianists.

Long red carpet between rope barriers on entrance

Why Hall of Fame?

The Oxford definition for “Hall of Fame” is an institution honouring the achievements of individuals in a particular activity or field.

In the context of this article, we will be looking at pianists from London or who visited London and have excelled in the art of playing the piano.

For a pianist to be recognised in this article’s Hall of Fame, they would have had to be outstanding in their musical performances and famous for playing the piano.

Of course, not every deserving pianist could be mentioned in this article, but a few experts will be covered.

Stephen Hough playing the grand piano

Photo credit: “Stephen Hough02 (51387794306)” by Quincena Musical – Stephen Hough02. Licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Modern Masters

These pianists are paving the way for future aspiring pianists by proving that it is still possible to climb great heights in music in today’s day and age.

Stephen Hough

Stephen is a British classical pianist, writer, and composer with over 60 albums to his name, one of his most recognised being a set of the four Rachmaninoff piano concertos.

He has been awarded numerous prestigious prizes and was even made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire—knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2022!

Stephen plays recitals regularly in major halls and concerts across the globe, including popular ones in London, such as London’s Royal Festival Hall.

He is considered a regular guest at concerts and festivals such as the BBC Proms, Hollywood Bowl, Mostly Mozart, Salzburg, and many more.

In 2001, Stephen became the first classical music performer to receive a MacArthur fellowship, a prize awarded to individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits.

Not only did Stephen excel in his musical career, but he also received numerous achievements in different fields such as writing, leadership, studies, and more.

You can find out more about his recordings and future performances on his website: www.stephenhough.com

Benjamin Grosvenor

With a reputation for exquisite lyricism and subtle brilliance, British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor is an internationally acclaimed master at the keyboard.

Gramophone recently included Grosvenor in its list of the top 50 pianists ever recorded, solidifying his status as one of the most influential pianists of recent times.

Many describe him as monumental, a musical genius, and brilliant. There is no doubt about his titles, as Grosvenor exceeds his reputation.

When he was only 11, he won the BBC Young Musician of the Year Award.

He has performed with major orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony, London Philharmonic, and New York Philharmonic.

Grosvenor is globally recognised for his electrifying performances, showcasing his virtuosity as he plays technically complex pieces.

He signed to Decca Classics, making him the youngest British musician ever to do so.

Grosvenor has become a regular at the popular festival: The BBC Proms. Aged 32, many are excited to see how Benjamin will continue to rise to the top as a profound and accomplished pianist.

Franz-Liszt and Frédéric Chopin

Left photo credit: “Portrait of Franz Liszt (1811-1886)”. Licensed under Public Domain.
Right photo credit: “Frederic Chopin photo”. Licensed under Public Domain.

Historic Heroes

Musicians whose legacies are left behind will live forever. The following pianists are legends who helped shape piano music as it is today.

Franz Liszt

Although born in Austria, Liszt had incredible influence during his era as a pianist and composer.

He performed in England many times throughout his career. Some of the places Liszt performed include Drury Lane, Theatre Royal.

He also played for Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle in 1846 (not 1886).

Liszt’s impact was so profound that a society was created to appreciate the study and works of Franz called The Liszt Society, which still exists today.

The Liszt Society also has an international piano competition where pianists can compete by playing any works done by Liszt.

Liszt introduced British audiences to his virtuosic playing and impressive technique.

British composers like Frederick Delius and Sterndale Bennett were greatly influenced by the way Liszt interpreted the piano.

Frédéric Chopin

A widely recognised virtuosic pianist and composer who lived during the Romantic period.

Chopin is known for his professional and complex technique that was incomparable to any other during his generation.

Born in Warsaw, which became part of Poland, Chopin was surrounded by musicians his whole life.

His father played the flute and violin, while his mother played the piano and occasionally gave Chopin some piano instructions.

Soon after many lessons, compositions, and concerts, he quickly excelled in playing the piano and composing.

Chopin met Franz Liszt when he went to Paris—the two quickly bonded and became friends, performing together on a few occasions.

While in Paris for a few years, Chopin experienced a decline in popularity, causing him to struggle financially.

During the 1848 Revolution in Paris, he left for London, where he gained fame rather quickly.

He played in Manchester’s Gentlemen’s Concert Hall, London’s Guildhall, and also performed at Stafford House, where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert both attended.

Chopin’s expressive playing greatly influenced British composers, encouraging the shift from classical to romantic music.

His compositions are, to this day, central to piano education in England, with emphasis on his techniques and methods.

Today, The Chopin Society UK and various other pianists continue to celebrate Chopin’s musical contributions on stage and in spirit.

Male hands playing the grand piano

Conclusion: The Legacy Lives!

From the grand concert halls of the 19th century to the exuberant performances of today, London has been a stage for some of the greatest pianists in history.

Sometimes we forget to realise how far piano music and playing have come.

Hopefully, this Hall of Fame gave you a second to pause and see the impact some exceptional pianists had on not only London but the whole industry.

London will always be a thriving hub for pianists to experience piano excellence, a legacy that is constantly growing with every piano performance, concert, and piece of music.

The legacy continues to live on, in and through me and you!

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Bach’s Legendary Legacy That Paved The Way For Piano https://www.londonpianoinstitute.co.uk/bach-piano-legacy/ Thu, 31 Oct 2024 11:01:40 +0000 https://www.londonpianoinstitute.co.uk/?p=28158

Piano music would not be the same today if there were no courageous musicians willing to go beyond the limits.

Imagine living such a compelling life, using your extraordinary talents to influence countless others.

Not many musicians can fit this description. Yet, there are some people that used their exceptional talents and skills that are still impacting lives today.

Beethoven, Mozat, Liszt and many more helped pave the way for the piano and its music.

Let us take a closer look at another brilliant composer and musician who helped shape the future of piano: Johann Sebastian Bach.

Painting of Bach

A Deeper Dive Into Bach‘s Life

In 1685, in the capital of the duchy of Saxe-Eisenach – in present-day Germany – the musical legend was born.

J.S. Bach was born into a remarkable family of musicians, also being introduced to music at a young age.

His father most likely taught him basic music theory and his uncle acquainted him with the organ.

It was most unfortunate when both his parents died at the young age of 10. Bach moved in with his eldest brother who happened to be the organist at St. Michael’s Church.

It was here where Bach studied, performed and copied music as well as his own brother’s (Which was typically forbidden at that time since scores were so valuable and private).

Bach learned a lot from his brother, teaching him on the clavichord.

At the age of 15, Bach was enrolled in the prestigious St Michael’s school situated in Lüneburg.

There he spent two years being exposed to a great deal of European culture.

After graduating, Bach became the court musician in the chapel of Johann Ernst III.

Here his reputation as keyboardist spread like a wildfire and Bach was soon invited to inspect the new organ at the New Church in Arnstadt, where he became the organist as well.

Fast forwarding to the year 1708, Bach had married and had their first child. He used his time in Weimar to continue to play and compose the organ.

A few years later the prince of Anhalt-Köthen, Leopold, hired Bach to serve as his director of music.

He worked for Leopold for a few years when his wife suddenly passed away.

Despite his hard troubles, in 1723 Bach was appointed director of church music in Leipzig, needing to provide four churches with music.

His remarkable talent left spectators speechless.

Bach led countless performances of his cantatas, having created over 300 of them in Leipzig! Bach broadened his composing, developing his astonishing skills all the more.

From around the year 1735, Bach started to compose the set of preludes and fugues for harpsichord that would become the second book of The Well tempered Clavier.

This book contains 48 works, which is made up of 24 preludes and 24 fugues in all 24 major and minor keys.

Many still use his book to this day!

In 1749, Bach’s health was declining.

Nevertheless he continued composing, transcribing and learning music until the end.

Bach became blind and unfortunately died due to undergoing treatment for his eyes, which proved unsuccessful.

Although this musical legend was lost, his music continues to live.

Statue of Bach

Bach’s Brilliant Inventions and Influence

Bach lived during the Baroque time period and is often called ‘the father of the Baroque era’.

He is even considered as one of the greatest composers of all time.

Throughout his 65 years on this earth, Bach composed 1128 pieces of music that we know of.

Some experts say that he composed significantly more than that, but it was unfortunately lost.

Looking at Bach’s style, he was constantly coming up with new melodies and techniques for his compositions and works.

He invented the counterpoint, which is the technique of setting, writing or playing a melody/melodies in conjunction with another.

Basically layering multiple melodic lines at the same time in simple terms.

Counterpoint was often used during the Baroque era and is one of its distinguishing qualities.

Bach’s music is known for its technical difficulty and polyphonic textures.

Harmonic progressions and modulation are evident throughout his compositions.

Many of his works demonstrate simplicity, clarity and elegance with a piercing tenderness.

An example would be his Italian Concerto which portrays exactly that.

Bach truly saw music as art and treated it as such.

Bach’s deep religious faith is evident in his music; which makes sense since he spent most of his time composing music for churches.

Many of Bach’s cantatas were created for the church as well as other works such as Mass in B minor, St. John Passion and more.

Although the modern piano had not yet been invented during his time, his compositions he wrote for organ, harpsichord and clavier could be easily transferred to the piano.

In fact, most of his compositions are played almost exclusively on piano!

Playing Bach’s compositions are an exceptional way at developing technical skills and refined control due to the difficulty they require.

Bach was greatly inspired by Italian music and loved to write dramatic openings for his works.

He most likely absorbed these stylistic aspects to an extent due to transcribing musician’s works like Vivaldi’s string and wind concerto for harpsichord and organ.

Many great Composers such as Mozart, Chopin and Beethoven have acknowledged Bach’s influence on their own works.

Beethoven played both volumes of Bach’s The Well- Tempered Clavier all throughout his life and composed music with a pattern occasionally hinting at Bach’s influence.

Clearly Bach inspired many composers and musicians during his time.

But did you know that for about 50 years after Bach’s death, his music was neglected and ignored!

Ironic, considering how admired he is today.

Some of his extracts that are rather popular include; Brandenburg Concertos, Air on the G string, Prelude and Fugue in C major and many more.

Old photo of hands on piano keyboard

Conclusion

J.S. Bach is a musical genius and a hero.

Even with his short lifespan he accomplished many things – a musician who is still influencing many to this day.

The man, the icon, the legend himself… Otherwise known as Johann Sebastian Bach!

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Keys Full Of Passion: The Piano’s Role In The Romantic Period https://www.londonpianoinstitute.co.uk/the-romantic-period/ Sun, 22 Sep 2024 06:41:22 +0000 https://www.londonpianoinstitute.co.uk/?p=28055

The Romantic Period was the start of dramatic music full of passion and life, with the piano playing a significant role during the era!

After the French Revolution, artists used the atmosphere it created as inspiration for their works.

People became more open and public about their objections, which radiated through musician’s compositions.

Romanticism was mainly a reaction against political and social injustice.

It was also a way of rebelling against the industrial revolution that replaced people’s jobs with machines.

That probably explains why romantic music is so expressive and dramatic.

Yet this was not the only reason for the music style during the Romantic period; musicians and composers rebelled against the traditional music styles – which were commonly found throughout the classical period – and instead made way for freedom of expression.

Romantic music puts emphasis on emotion, prioritising personal feelings and expression.

There was a growing sense of ‘bigger music’, expanding orchestras, symphonies and more.

Lady playing piano at home

The Piano’s Improvement During The Romantic Period

The piano evolved significantly during the Romantic era, which took place between roughly 1820 to 1900.

Many evolutions have happened regarding the piano.

The amount of physical keys expanded from five to eight octaves.

Instead of constructing the piano frames out of wood, during the Romantic period, the frames were made of metal, improving the durability of the instrument.

These advancements enriched the entire tonal quality and pitch of the piano.

John William Waterhouse's The Lady of Shalott painting

Elements of The Romantic Era

Explosion of Emotion and Expression

The Romantic period is known for its expressive melodies and the emotional depth it conveys.

During the era, many musicians and composers rebelled against tradition and the norm of how music was created, thus making it possible for pianists to truly express themselves when playing.

Composers moved away from the strict ‘rules’ Classical music entails and placed focus on free expression and personal emotion.

Musicians were encouraged to play with passion to invoke intense feelings such as sadness, longing, hope, love, etc.

The music tends to be introspective, letting the music reflect the composer’s inner emotions.

Lyrical Melodies

The piano often played lyrical melodies, which is a song-like melody resembling vocal lines.

Many piano pieces mimic songs with their long and flowing phrases.

It is characterised by a smooth-flowing melody and is typically slow.

The melodies were expressive and expansive, generally diatonic, but they allowed for chromatic movements to add to the atmosphere.

Also, the melodic phrases were longer than those you would typically find in the classical period.

Use of Pedal

The pedal was used freely since it was seen as another way to add emotion and colour to the music.

As the pedal’s techniques developed, it allowed pianists to do more leaps without sustaining the sound.

It leads to a richer and warmer sound.

The pedal was used to a much wider extent than compared to the classical period and has improved significantly.

Using the pedal enhances the textures of a composition and helps shape the atmosphere, too.

Harmonic Diversity And Complexity

In the Classical Period, harmonies were more logical, balanced and proportionate.

Whereas in the Romantic period, it is devoid of restraint and objectivity with more colourful and vibrant harmonies.

Dissonance plays a big role in Romantic music, causing the harmonies to be different and distinct.

Chromatic movements and modulations also formed a vital part in the harmonies during this era.

Chromaticism and dissonance were often used to create a tense atmosphere.

Expanded Use of Dynamics

There was a greater range of dynamics used during the Romantic Period.

Instead of the classic piano (p) or just forte (f) for a song, it grew to become a lot more such as fortissimo (ff), fortississimo (fff) and more!

It created an even greater dramatic effect in the music.

This has to do with the fact that Romantic music is extremely expressive, thus needing a greater dynamic range to do so.

In the Baroque period, sudden shifts were common but it was mainly since it was extremely difficult to control the dynamics on a harpsichord.

When the piano was introduced, the Classical Period moved away from sudden shifts and placed focus on gradual dynamic changes.

Yet, during the Romantic Period, sudden shifts of dynamic intensity were a great way to add dramatics and expression.

Technical Virtuosity

Many romantic pieces required fast melodic movements, showcasing pianists’ virtuosity.

The Romantic Period is known for its technically demanding piano pieces with challenging passages, complex rhythms and intense dynamics.

Since the pedal played a bigger role than it did during the Classical period, it added to the difficulty of playing romantic pieces.

Composers liked to experiment with new techniques that pushed the boundaries.

The structure of the piano became more and more perfect with dazzling technicality, requiring expert musicians to deal with the tasks.

All while still trying to invoke emotion and play expressively. Two of the most virtuous pianists were Franz Liszt and Frédéric Chopin.

Rubato

Rubato is the temporary disregarding of strict tempo to allow an expressive quickening or slackening without altering the overall pace.

Musicians and composers idolised this in most, if not all, of their Romantic works because it allows for an even greater expressive playing.

Programmatic elements

Programmatic elements mean telling a story through music.

It describes non-musical ideas such as poetry, nature and so forth.

An example would be in Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony where in the fourth movement of his work describes a violent thunderstorm.

Beethoven uses the timpani to describe the loud thunder, a piccolo for the lightning and other various instruments to create the idea of a big and thunderous storm.

Another example is The Hebrides, composed by Felix Mendelssohn, a concert overture describing Fingal’s cave and the majesty thereof.

The piano has evolved immensely during the Romantic Period.

It was also the start of shaking up grounds of injustice and speaking out about wrongness.

I can only imagine what a time it would have been to be a pianist then!

Related articles:

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5 Fascinating Facts About the Piano You Probably Didn’t Know https://www.londonpianoinstitute.co.uk/5-fascinating-facts-about-the-piano/ Fri, 31 May 2024 09:19:55 +0000 https://www.londonpianoinstitute.co.uk/?p=26668

The piano is often overlooked when it comes to interesting facts and new information. Nevertheless, here are 5 facts worth the read.

Illustration of astronaut playing piano

1. Pianos Have Been Sent to Space Before

If I was sent to space, I’d definitely take an instrument with me to pass the time if I could. Ed Lu seized the opportunity to take an electric piano to space with him and play it.

Lu graduated with an electrical engineering degree and was later chosen to partake in NASA’s astronaut program.

Three years later he was sent into space. On his third time going to space, Lu used the opportunity to play the piano in space. He played the “Happy Birthday” song which he said was challenging.

Many other astronauts who have also played the piano in space, can understand the difficulty of playing piano in space. The reason for this is because pushing the keys down in a gravity free environment causes the instrument to float away, if not anchored.

The keys also would not jump back into their original position. Yet it still sounds like a fun activity to tick off your bucket list.

Spinet

2. There Are More Than Three Types of Pianos

Almost everyone is familiar with the upright, the grand and the electric piano which include electronic or digital. But did our know there are different categories that fall under these resulting in more types of pianos?

The smallest of the piano types, is a Spinet.

It is a form of the harpsichord, usually wing shaped, yet also commonly found shaped as a typical upright piano.

It was quite the popular choice for people living in small spaces who still wanted to pursue their love for playing piano. More types that look like upright pianos are the console, studio and full size piano – the length ascending in this order.

Grand pianos are seen as more of a luxury, yet can be more affordable when looking at the smallest type which is the Petite Grand piano.

The Baby Grand, Medium Grand, Ballroom Grand and Concert grand all form part as types of grand pianos. The concert grand piano is one I dream of having – such a majestic and ethereal looking instrument!

Digital pianos come in various shapes and sizes, due to the freedom of being able to choose where the electronic parts go without ruining quality. The Rhodes is considered as the king of electric pianos, which is small enough to be transported by suitcase!

Left hand playing piano

3. There Are Specially Made Left-Handed Pianos

In earlier times, many considered it unlucky or even cursed to be left-handed, most probably having an impact on how pianos were made.

Obviously, as time carried on, the superstition died as people realised the truth of their accusations. Studies show that about 10% of the population are left handed, thus the market for left handed pianos would probably not thrive.

Yet, A left handed pianist – Christopher Seed, deemed it fit to create a piano where everything is reversed. Christopher said his left hand was more dominant and dexterous.

This led to the first ever left-handed piano – a complete mirror-image of a typical 19th century fortepiano. The high notes begin on the left side, while the lower notes move down in pitch towards the right.

Even the pedals are reversed!

Christopher has turned his ‘obstacle’ into an advantage for sure, paving a way for many left handed pianists who are the same.

Although this invention is practical and genius, I guess it would be better to use a normal piano since left handed pianos are not as common or popular.

Grand piano

4. Largest Piano Ever Built

The history behind it is quite interesting.

In 1934, a leading British piano manufacturer wanted to celebrate the 25 years of king George V being on the throne. They accepted the challenge and built a massive piano. It weighed 1270 kg and was 3.55m long! Yet this was only the start of piano giants.

A few more were built, but all of these have met their match when one particular piano was built.

Stolëmowi Klawér is currently recognised as the world’s largest piano. With a measurement of 6.07m long and almost 2 metres tall, this piano was created in Poland 2010 to celebrate Frédéric Chopin’s 200 year anniversary.

A normal piano usually has 88 keys, whereas this incredible beast of an instrument has a whopping 156 of them! The Stolëmowi Klawér is located in Szymbark where it lives at the Education Centre.

White color grand piano

5. The World’s Most Expensive Piano

If you had an infinite amount of money and a love for playing the piano, would you spend millions for a breathtaking piece of art?

Not too long ago, a piano was on auction during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games opening ceremony. It was sold for a large sum of money, amounting to $3.22 million!

It was called the Crystal piano, which – true to its name – was made entirely out of pure crystal. The crystal clear body puts the inner parts of the piano on show, revealing the intricate and beautiful design that creates heavenly sounds.

There are a bunch more pianos sold in this price range, like the John Lennon Steinway model z (sold for 2.37) , the Sound of Harmony ( 1.62m) and many more.

Yet the all time most expensive piano ever recorded, was the Casablanca piano, Also known as the “As time goes by” piano.

Created in around 1927, This beauty was sold to an anonymous buyer for $3.5 million in 2014!

Conclusion

What fact made your eyes widen, or did you know all of these?

Hopefully it opened a whole new world of your knowledge of the piano. There truly are fascinating facts to discover about the piano, you just need to look!

Resources:

(No date) NASA Ed Lu. (Accessed: 30 May 2024) Largest piano (no date) Guinness World Records. (Accessed: 30 May 2024)Piano (2024) Encyclopædia Britannica. (Accessed: 30 May 2024)Spinet (no date) Encyclopædia Britannica. (Accessed: 30 May 2024)Statistics about the most expensive pianos • Gitnux (2024) GITNUX. (Accessed: 30 May 2024)Valley Piano Tuning and Repair (no date) Five of the world’s most expensive pianos, Valley Piano Tuning and Repair. (Accessed: 30 May 2024)What is the most expensive piano in the world? (no date) Classical Music. (Accessed: 30 May 2024)

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The history of the piano https://www.londonpianoinstitute.co.uk/history-of-the-piano/ https://www.londonpianoinstitute.co.uk/history-of-the-piano/#respond Thu, 13 Oct 2016 21:46:16 +0000 https://www.londonpianoinstitute.co.uk/?p=2048 Discover the history of the piano – from the inventions made by Bartolomeo Cristofori to the modern concert grand!
Fortepiano

By JaGa – Own work, GFDL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3885374

The pianoforte, more commonly known as simply just the piano, is one of the world’s most popular instruments. The instrument actually dates back hundreds of years and in that time the world has changed beyond recognition – but how has the piano evolved with it?

Although exact dates are unknown, most history books agree that the first piano came into being around the turn of the 18th century, and the invention is widely accredited to Bartolomeo Cristofori. Cristofori’s pianos were commonly known as fortepianos.

The fortepiano designed by Cristofori is similar to the modern piano, only smaller in size than your typical modern day grand piano and with more ornate work around the legs, compared to the simple and sleek designs seen more often today. Many great classical composers, such as Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, all played on fortepianos.

Towards the turn of the 19th century, the instrument underwent a period of evolution. The fortepiano’s of Cristofori’s original design steadily became obsolete, replaced instead by the ‘modern’ piano that we know and love today. The change was in response to composers and pianists crying out for a more powerful sound and the evolution was made possible by the Industrial Revolution, which provided new materials to work with.

It’s testament to Cristofori’s original design that the grand pianos used around the world today are still very similar to his original invention. Acoustic concert pianos still have the same look to them, albeit with updated technology and new ways to improve them developing all the time.

However, as technology has developed so has the range of pianos on offer. These days, learners can purchase digital pianos. Digital pianos are far more practical for everyday use, as they’re far more compact in their design. They take up a lot less space in the average living room, dining room, or hallway than a full size grand piano.

The downside of owning a digital piano is the fact that they cannot actually replicate the exact beauty of owning an acoustic piano.

If faced with a choice, always opt for a real acoustic upright or grand piano.

Yes, it will be slightly pricier, but the joy that your piano will bring you will far surpass the (initial) pain of the purchase!

Noise may be an issue, but thanks to technology you can now enjoy acoustic upright pianos with a volume control. See Yamaha’s Transacoustic range.

So, there you have it! As the world has changed in a rapid way since the 1700s, the design of the piano has remained largely steadfast. Technology is giving us ample new ways to play, and taking up the piano can be a rewarding and fulfilling past time. If you’re interested in piano lessons, contact the London Piano Institute for sought-after tuition with a renowned London-based pianist.

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