Fortepianos
Fortepiano is an early type of piano developed in the 18th century, designed to be played with a keyboard and producing dynamic shading by means of a hammer striking the strings. The instrument's name is derived from Italian forte-piano, meaning "loud-soft," reflecting its dynamic range in comparison with older keyboard instruments.
The fortepiano was developed from the harpsichord and clavichord. The most famous inventor was Bartolomeo Cristofori
Typical fortepianos had five to six and a half octaves, light wooden frames, and gut strings. The
Prominent makers include Cristofori (Italy); Gottfried Silbermann (Germany) who built early fortepianos for Bach's circle; Anton
Fortepianos were widely used for classical-era repertoire by composers such as Mozart, Haydn, and early Beethoven.