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The New Grove musical dictionary summarizes the earliest historical traces of the harpsichord: "The earliest known reference to a harpsichord dates from 1397, when a jurist in Padua wrote that a certain Hermann Poll claimed to have invented an instrument called the 'clavicembalum'; [1] and the earliest known representation of a harpsichord is a sculpture (see below) in an altarpiece of 1425 ...
The harpsichord was most likely invented in the late Middle Ages. By the 16th century, harpsichord makers in Italy were making lightweight instruments with low tension brass stringing. A different approach was taken in the Southern Netherlands starting in the late 16th century, notably by the Ruckers family. Their harpsichords used a heavier ...
Note that the piano rapidly became popular at the end of the 18th century, and many builders at the time built both instruments, until the harpsichord effectively became extinct early in the 19th century. The top line shows composers from each era for orientation.
These are the ways in which it is possible to play the Arpicimbalo del piano e forte, invented by Master Bartolomeo Christofani of Padua in the year 1700, harpsichord maker to the Most Serene Grand Prince Ferdinand of Tuscany. (transl. Stewart Pollens) According to Scipione Maffei's journal article, by 1711 Cristofori had built three pianos.
Piano Grand piano Upright piano Keyboard instrument Hornbostel–Sachs classification 314.122-4-8 (Simple chordophone with keyboard sounded by hammers) Inventor(s) Bartolomeo Cristofori Developed Early 18th century Playing range The Well-Tempered Clavier, first prelude of Book I Played by Kimiko Douglass-Ishizaka Problems playing this file? See media help. A piano is a keyboard instrument that ...
Americus built both harpsichords and pianofortes. He is described by composer, musician and chronicler Charles Burney in Rees's Cyclopaedia for 1772 as "a harpsichord maker of second rank, who constructed several pianofortes, and improved the mechanism in some particulars, but the tone, with all the delicacy of Schroeter's (see below) touch, lost the spirit of the harpsichord and gained ...
The spinet piano, manufactured from the 1930s until recent times, was the culmination of a trend among manufacturers to make pianos smaller and cheaper. It served the purpose of making pianos available for a low price, for owners who had little space for a piano. Many spinet pianos still exist today, left over from their period of manufacture.
The Gräbner family were German harpsichord-, clavichord-, organ- and eventually piano makers from the 17th century to the beginning of the 19th century. [1] They are best known for their harpsichords, which represent a mid-german style of building, distinct from the better known northern style as represented by Hass, Mietke and Zell.