pianoforte

Pianoforte, commonly called the piano, is a keyboard instrument in which pressing a key causes a hammer to strike one or more strings. The name, from Italian, means soft-loud, reflecting the instrument’s dynamic capabilities. It was devised in Italy in the early 18th century by Bartolomeo Cristofori.

Mechanism and design: Each key operates a lever that lifts a hammer covered with felt to strike the strings, then falls away to allow a damper to silence the string when the key is released. The touch of the player controls the volume and tone. Early pianos had a limited range, but the instrument gradually expanded to roughly seven octaves; the modern standard has 88 keys spanning A0 to C8. Unlike the harpsichord or clavichord, the piano produces sound by hammers striking strings, enabling a wide dynamic range from very soft to very loud.

Development: Over the 18th and 19th centuries builders improved the action, increased string tension, and adopted iron frames and overstrung scales to enhance resonance and durability. The double escapement action, introduced in the 19th century, enabled rapid repetition of notes. Two main forms persist today: the grand piano, with horizontal strings and a musical lid, and the upright piano, with vertical strings in a compact cabinet.

Impact: The pianoforte became the principal Western keyboard instrument, central to classical repertoire, pedagogy, and a wide range of genres including jazz and contemporary music. Notable manufacturers include Cristofori, Broadwood, Steinway, and Fazioli.