Piano History - A Fascinating Story

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Discover piano history and the development of pianos and keyboards! Join in exploring the history of our favorite instrument, from it's origins until today!

Who invented the piano? The history of the piano is a fascinating story that originates from approximately 2300 years ago. It's a journey to ancient times and back again...

Learn About The History Of The Piano

Piano HistoryDiscover Piano History!

The piano, also called Pianoforte, is one of the most popular instruments of all times. Today it is played all over the world, and used in many different styles of music.

As one of the most popular instruments, it has gone through many transformations during the history of its development.

Click on the links below to learn more about the history and the "forefathers" of the piano:

Piano History: Origin and Development

The pianos and keyboards we play today have little in common regarding sound (at least!) with its historical forefathers.

This is interesting, and rather important to think about when playing music from earlier than the 20th century; those instruments sounded very different from the ones we play today!

When the piano was first invented around 1700 in Italy by Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655–1731), it was called “Gravicembalo col piano e forte” or “Fortepiano”.

The full name of the piano today is “Pianoforte” (meaning "soft loud"), and it is still called that way in for example Italy. But as we know, generally it is referred to only as “Piano”.

Piano History

The First Piano: Fortepiano

The “Fortepiano”,  however, is the antique instrument that was used by for example Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven.

The Fortepiano is a historical instrument with a different build and it has a different sound quality than the modern instruments produced today. Check out this video with a Fortepiano.

Fortepianos (as well as other historical keyboard instruments like the Cembalo or Harpsichord) are built even today.

They are mostly used for recordings and performances of the music of the classical epoch for a more historically accurate sound.

Famous Pianists Through Time

Famous Pianists of the 20th and 21st Century

Arthur Rubinstein

Let's not forget the amazing pianists that bring the piano to life! The stories, their passion.

Read more about some of the most famous and influential classical pianists of the 20th and 21st century.

These are the "movers and shakers" if you like, in the world of classical music.

29 Timeless Piano Quotes for Inspiration and Motivation

Read on for fun, inspirational, motivational and timeless piano quotes by famous pianists and composers. Make sure to add your own favorites as well! 

Read More