Piano

The piano is one of the most popular instruments in music. It was developed to expand on the expressive potentialities of keyboard instruments, such as the harpsichord, which relied on plucked strings to create a sound. The invention of the first fortepianos (the precursor of today's piano) is usually traced back to Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655 – 1731) who built the first workable examples of an instrument that used hammers to strike the strings enabling the performer to produce a more varied tone. Further developments during the 18th century saw the piano surge in popularity, replacing other forms of keyboard instrument. In the 19th century composers and artists demanded pianos with more power and expressive range. This led to the development of the pianoforte as we know it today, with a frame made of iron enabling virtuosos like Liszt and later Rachmaninov to dazzle audiences with their musical abilities.