History of Piano

ducleimer was invented 5000 years ago

May 3, 1184

In Spain a dulcimer-like instrument is depicted on a cathedral relief from 1184 A.D.

clavichord was invsented

Jun 3, 1400

It flourished for centuries later in the music of Bach.

virginal

Feb 7, 1511

It is a small harpsichord with keys at right angles to a single set of strings.

Cristofori Piano forte

Apr 14, 1700

In about 1710, Bartolomeo Cristofori built several instruments in harpsichord shape but with hummer mechanisms surprisingly like the modern piano action.

First exhibited in Florence

Jun 3, 1709

Cristafori's new instrument was named gravicembalo col piano e forte( roughly "soft and loud keybord instrument").

Hammer-keyboard designs

Dec 24, 1716

Jean Marius submits hammer-keyboard designs to Royal Academy of Science, paris

square modern piano

Dec 24, 1742

The square piano originated in efforts of German builders to adapt Cristofori's piano-forte to the traditional rectangular shape of the clavichord.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano)

soft pedal

Dec 24, 1774

soft piano pedals were invented

sustain pedal

May 16, 1783

sustain piano pedals were invented.

6-octave piano

Dec 24, 1796

Broadwood makes a 6-octave grand for the Queen of Spain, London(https://www.piano-tuners.org/history/history_1.htm)

upright piano

Apr 4, 1800

In 1800 the first satisfactory uprights were invented independently by Hawkins of Philadelphia and Mueller of Vienna.(http://pianonet.com/all-about-pianos/history-of-the-piano/)

PIano of Beethoven's period

Feb 24, 1803

During the 18th century piano builders gradually extended the keyboard, using constantly heavier hammers and strings that required increased strengthening of the fame.(http://www.all-about-pianos.com/history-of-the-piano.html)

Beethoven

Dec 11, 1803

Erard Brothers of Paris present Beethoven with a piano

piano by Thom and Allen

Dec 24, 1820

First successful use of metal in grand piano frame by Thom and Allen, London(http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/a/piano.htm)

piano of LIncoln's period

Dec 24, 1821

The oustanding improvements were the double-repetition action of Sebastien Erard.

7-octave

Dec 24, 1822

Erard makes a 7-octave piano(http://www.ptg.org/Scripts/4Disapi.dll/4DCGI/cms/review.html?Action=CMS_Document&DocID=109&MenuKey=Menu9)

Welte-Migon's invention

Dec 24, 1901

Welte-Mignon invents a player-piano mechanism, Freiburg, Germany

harpsichord

Jun 2, 1915

this form reached its peak in a period of Bach and Handel.

Spinet

Aug 4, 1917

THought originally in Italy and was perfected by English buildres.

Modern

May 2, 1920

Modern technology (new glues, better control of woods, stronger wire, new manufacturing processes, etc.) has enabled the modern piano to become the most used and and versatile of all musical instruments.