The Evolution of the Piano

The Evolution of the Piano

In studying the history of the piano from ancient keyboard stringed instruments to its present black and white key acoustical form , it is necessary to examine the instrument against the background of chronological data . Time and history are important reference points regarding the origin of the keyboard itself

The Kanyn of western Asia also made its appearance in Europe during the Middle Ages . Its strings were of gut , and its name was variously corrupted into Canon , Micanon or Demicanon . The Psaltery , a more particular notice of [banner_entry_middle]

the keyboard features of the early stringed instruments the first of these is the Psaltery , a familiar term used for various instruments in the translations of the Bible . The instrument is known to have existed in China thousands of years before the Christian era . There it is known as the Kin

Whether or not the hydraulic organ of Ctesibus was operated by keys is destined to remain somewhat in doubt so far as our present knowledge extends the only known reproductions , occurring on Roman coins , show merely the back of the instrument , leaving the matter of its manipulation entirely conjectural (Wier , 1940 ,

.1 ) The piano has been many things and performed many tasks . The predominant musical instrument , for tyro and virtuoso , it was also once a potent symbol of social advance . Precursor of our coveted goods , it therefore pioneered the law and finance of hire purchase . Its development , requiring new technologies and systems of manufacture , epitomized the industrial history of competing nations . If its historian , like some of its makers cannot afford to be tone-deaf , he should also take note of economic and social contexts (Ehrlich , 1990 ,

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HISTORY

In the beginning of recorded history , the keyboards of organs and spinets had all or nearly all features in common , but the clavichord , so far as we are able to judge from existing specimens and from contemporary , followed the hexachordal conception of Guido d ‘Arezzo .this was a logical development from the division of the monochord . Occasionally short octaves are found , as for example in the clavichord of which Handel is said to have been the owner (Wier 1940 ,

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In England , The Virginal , Spinet and Symphoniathe , terms Virginal and Spinet are synonymous , regardless of whether the particular example under consideration is oblong or wing-shaped . They are used to describe an instrument having only one string for each note , and played by means of a keyboard . Fanciful suggested that the term Virginal was used in England because Queen Elizabeth was a skilful performer on the instrument , but the fact is that the word was in common use

In the case of organs , about the beginning of the sixteenth century a different ing of the pipes (physical arrangements of the pipes and of strings in the case of spinets , was used for the accommodation of the “old harmony ” Technically speaking , the pedal-point is the foundation for melodies . Contrasted with a rapidly moving harmonic background , which… [banner_entry_footer]