Who Invented the Piano?Part 1: Ancient KeyboardsWho invented the piano? Where did the piano come from? The History of the piano has roots from long ago...Ancient Keyboards:When learning about the history of pianos and the development of the piano we have today, we have to look at the development of keyboard instruments in general, as well as how the desire for different tone-qualities have changed over the centuries.
The piano today is a “hybrid”; a string instrument as well as a percussion instrument. The strings set in a frame in the shape of a harp are played with hammers covered in felt. I think humans, as well as always having had a need for music in one form or another, also always have been fascinated by buttons :-). Imagine then -buttons that produce sound. Must have been enticing enough to keep several inventors of instruments busy! In any case, the first proof of a keyboard instrument goes way back in history to ancient Greece! It is called the Hydraulis- a predecessor to the organ from about 300 BC. The inventors of the piano and other keyboard instruments later of course built upon this idea of keys or levers being pressed down to produce sound in various ways... Now you can see a new fantastic replica finalized in 1999, at the museum in Dion, Greece. Here is a video to see and hear the Hydraulis being played!
The Hydraulis became rather popular and spread to Rome and Western Europe; it was even used to help get the audience in a good mood during Roman gladiator games- makes me think of the organ used during ice hockey games today! (At least the hockey players do not have to pay with their own lives….)
Continue to History of piano: Part 2
Other Resources:The Music Box: The Story of Cristofori  The New Grove: The Piano (The New Grove Series) The Piano: An Encyclopedia (Encyclopedia of Keyboard Instruments) Easy Keyboard Music - Ancient to Modern (An Alfred Masterwork Edition) Return from Who Invented The Piano? to Piano History
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