Transcript The Evolution of the Piano

The Evolution of the Piano
9th Grade General Music Class
Ms. Julianne Hambrick
Who invented the piano, and how
did it get to be the way it is today?
What is a piano?
 A stringed keyboard
instrument
 Derived from the
harpsichord and the
clavichord
Also called the
pianoforte
 Differs from its
forerunners because it
uses a hammer-andlever action that allows
the player to control the
intensity of the sound
by through the touch of
the fingers
steinwaypiano.gif
The Piano’s Ancestors
 The sound on a harpsichord is produced by the
strings being plucked. It’s sound is much different
that that of a piano.
 The clavichord is the oldest form of a keyboard
instrument. Small brass blades, called tangents, strike the
string on each key to create the sound.
The First Piano
 Called a gravicembalo col piano e forte (which is
Italian for “harpsichord with loud and soft”)
 Built in 1709 by Bartolomeo Cristofori, who was a
harpsichord maker in Italy
Two of of his pianos still exist today, one in New
York and one in Germany
Influential People
Gottfried Silberman
 An organ maker
 1725
 Noted Christofori’s
work and initiated the
development in
Germany
Johann Andreas
Most important
contributions
Made improvements
which led to the
“Viennese” piano that
was praised by Mozart
and was preferred by
German players of the
18th and 19th centuries
John Broadwood
Sebastien Erard
 1760
Founded a French
 Migrated from
school in the 1790’s
Germany to London
In 1823, created
with eleven others
“double escapement”
 Constructed a school
(the ablilty for a note
that turned the
to be rapidly repeated)
production of pianos
that is still in use
into a stronger build,
today
resembling even more
those of today
Noted Manufactures
 By this time, artisans
in all of the Western
nations were trying to
perfect the
construction of the
piano
 Germany and America
have been
distinguished
manufacturers for
years
 Karl Bechinstein
 Baldwin, Mason
&Hamlin, Steinway,
Early Pianos
Like the harpsichord, the early piano had a
span of only four, or at most five, octaves.
Today the piano has a range of more than
seven octaves.
How does the piano work?
 The strings are wound
around pins in the frame (1).
 A thin piece of spruce is
placed under the strings to
reinforce the vibrations (2).
 The strings get larger and
thicker as you go down the
keyboard to the lower notes.
The higher strings are made
of 2-3 strings tuned to the
same pitch, but the lower
notes are made of a much
thicker strings with copper
wound around them (3).
 The action is the entire part
used to propel the hammers
against the keys. The most
visible part of the action is
the keyboard, which is make
of ivory and ebony, or
sometimes plastic (4).
 The pedals are levers used
by the feet. They control the
dampers and create several
different effects (5).
 The case determines
whether a piano is grand,
square, or upright. Square
pianos are no longer made.
(6).
What is the piano used for
today?
The piano is a very
popular instrument
because of its
versatility and
responsiveness.
The piano is used in
orchestral and
chamber music as
well as in jazz and
popular music.
The piano is also
used as a solo
instrument, to
accompany voice,
and as a part of a
band or orchestra.
Famous Pianists
Johann Sebastian Bach
(1685-1750)
 German organist and
composer of the Baroque
era
Famous for Goldberg
Variations, The WellTempered Clavier, and
The Art of the Fugue
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(1756-1791)
 Was an accomplished
performer on the clavier,
organ and violin at age 6
Famous for his 27 piano
concertos and 17 piano
sonatas
Ludwig van Beethoven
(1770-1827)
 Began his career as an
outstanding improviser at
the piano and composer
of piano music
 Famous for his piano
sonatas including the
Pathetique sonata and
Moonlight sonata
Frederic Chopin
(1810-1849)
 He wrote his first
composition at the age of
seven
Famous for 55 mazurkas,
27 etudes, 24 preludes,
19 nocturnes, 13
polonaises, and 3
sonata, all written for the
piano!
Franz Lizst
(1811-1886)
 Studied with many
famous pianists in Paris
for 12 years
 Famous for teaching
more than 400 students
and producing more than
350 compositions, most
of them being very
complex
Claude Debussy
(1862-1918)
 Went against the
traditional “rules” of
music and paved the way
to the modern styles
Famous for Estampes
(Engravings), Images,
and several preludes
How much do you remember?
Name one of the piano’s ancestors.
What is the name of the person who made
the very first piano?
Name one other person who contributed to
developing the piano.
Name one famous manufacturer of pianos.
What part of the piano is controlled by the
feet?
Name one famous pianist and what they are
famous for.