Bartolomeo Cristofori Quiz: Piano History & Evolution Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

Who is credited with inventing the piano?

Bartolomeo Cristofori

How many keys does the current version of the piano have?

88 keys

How is the piano classified as an instrument?

Acoustic keyboard instrument

Which instrument did the piano expand on in its design?

Harpsichord Signup and view all the answers

Where was the piano invented?

Italy Signup and view all the answers

What type of techniques does the piano combine?

Percussive and string techniques Signup and view all the answers

Who was the inventor of the piano?

Bartolomeo Cristofori Signup and view all the answers

What was the original name of the first piano designed by Bartolomeo Cristofori?

Gravecembalo col piano e forte Signup and view all the answers

What mechanism did Cristofori include in his ideal piano to prevent the hammer from bouncing back onto the string?

Escapement Signup and view all the answers

Which instrument is considered to be the ancestor of the piano?

Organ Signup and view all the answers

What was the mechanism used by harpsichords to produce sound?

Quill plucking the strings Signup and view all the answers

Which creator introduced the square piano to Great Britain?

Johann Christoph Zumpe Signup and view all the answers

What did Friderici create as a precursor to the upright piano?

"Pyramidenfluegel" Signup and view all the answers

Which component allowed the harpsichord to move away quickly from the string so that the sound would not be dampened in Cristofori's design?

"Escapement" Signup and view all the answers

Who is credited with making variations of the piano, such as removing the keyboard or altering the mechanisms of the instrument?

"John Isaac Hawkins" Signup and view all the answers

Who is attributed with inventing harpsichords?

Ctesibius Signup and view all the answers

What is considered to be one of the most famous and widely used keyboard instruments in the world?

Organ Signup and view all the answers

What did Zumpe introduce to Great Britain as a German immigrant piano maker?

Square Piano Signup and view all the answers

Who is responsible for the development of the upright piano?

John Isaac Hawkins Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the sostenuto pedal in a piano?

To sustain musical notes after keys have been released Signup and view all the answers

How do the strings of a harpsichord produce sound?

By being plucked by quills held by a notched piece of wood attached to the far end of the key Signup and view all the answers

What is a distinguishing feature of the harpsichord compared to the piano?

Higher range than that of a piano Signup and view all the answers

What is an innovation on the player piano?

Pneumatic system responded to holes, moving keys Signup and view all the answers

Who were the composers who made the piano famous?

Muzio Clementi and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Signup and view all the answers

Who had one of the largest handspans in music history, enabling enthralling sounds with the piano?

Sergei Rachmaninoff Signup and view all the answers

What makes modern pianos much louder than the harpsichord?

They include dampers to silence strings, unlike harpsichords Signup and view all the answers

What was an innovation on the piano called 'chordaphone'?

The barrel piano Signup and view all the answers

Who invented the sostenuto pedal?

Hanchett Signup and view all the answers

What did John Isaac Hawkins change about the arrangement of strings in the upright piano?

He had the strings run perpendicular to the keyboard, starting at the floor of the piano Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Piano

The piano was invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori in the early 18th century.
The current version of the piano has 88 keys.
The piano is classified as a string instrument, specifically a type of chordophone.
The piano expanded on the design of the harpsichord, its ancestor.

History of the Piano

The piano was invented in Florence, Italy.
The original name of the first piano designed by Cristofori was "pianoforte".
Cristofori included a mechanism to prevent the hammer from bouncing back onto the string, known as the "escapement mechanism".

Design and Mechanism

The piano combines both percussion and string techniques.
The harpsichord, the ancestor of the piano, produced sound through the plucking of strings by quills.
In Cristofori's design, the escapement mechanism allowed the hammer to move away quickly from the string, preventing the sound from being dampened.
The harpsichord's mechanism to produce sound was through the plucking of strings by quills.

Development and Variations

Friderici created the first square piano, which was introduced to Great Britain.
The upright piano was developed by John Isaac Hawkins, who changed the arrangement of strings.
The sostenuto pedal was invented by Theodore Steinway.

Famous Composers and Pianists

Composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin made the piano famous.
Rachmaninoff had one of the largest handspans in music history, enabling him to create enthralling sounds with the piano.

Characteristics and Innovations

Modern pianos are much louder than the harpsichord due to the thicker strings and larger soundboard.
The "chordaphone" innovation on the piano allowed for a wider range of tonal possibilities.
The player piano, also known as the pianola, is an innovation that allows the piano to play automatically.
The distinguishing feature of the harpsichord compared to the piano is its lack of dynamic range, as it can only produce a soft sound.

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