Grand Piano History and Characteristics

Grand Piano History

• Grand pianos, according to tradition, originated from stringed instruments in Persia.
• The clavichord and harpsichord were popular instruments in Europe during the 1500s-1700s.
• The first written records of the harpsichord date back to the 1300s.
• Bartolomeo Cristofori, possibly, created the first piano in the 1700s.
• Johann Andreas Stein improved the piano's design in the late 1700s.
• John Broadwood, Robert Stodart, and Americus Backers designed a piano in a harpsichord case - the first "grand piano" - in 1777.
• The "double escapement" action, invented in 1800 by Sébastien Érard in France, allowed for rapid key playing.
• Steinway & Sons founded a prestigious piano company in 1853.
• The first iron frame for a grand piano was patented in 1843.

Grand Piano Characteristics

• The piano, known as the "king of instruments", covers a wide range of notes, exceeding seven octaves.
• The word "piano" comes from "pianoforte", which means the instrument can be played softly (piano) or loudly (forte).
• Early grand pianos were found in royal courts and wealthy households with intricate painted designs.
• Grand pianos come in various sizes, ranging from baby grand pianos (under 5ft 4 in or 162cm) to concert grand pianos (up to 9ft 10in or 3 meters).
• Longer pianos have longer bass strings, resulting in richer tones and resonance.
• A pianoforte is described as communicating subtle truths through wood, metal, and vibrating air.
• The soft pedal makes the sound softer. The sostenuto pedal allows already played notes to continue. The damper pedal maintains the sound of notes.