Piano: Mother of keyboard instruments

Piano is used widely in Western classical and jazz performances and also as an accompanying instrument in concerts and recordings. Derived from the Italian word, Pianoforte (Piano means quiet and Forte means loud), it has an octave range of seven -and –a- half (found in modern pianos).

The credit for the invention of modern piano goes to Bartolomeo Cristofori of Italy in 1700 (the date is not certain as some believe it was 1698). Earlier, instruments like Clavichord and Harpsichord were used. However, they had their limitations. While the Clavichord was too loud, the Harpsichord was too soft for stage performances. The Industrial Revolution brought changes in the design of the piano. During those times, the octave range of the instrument was five.

Piano is a keyboard instrument and the modern synthesiser is based on it. The synthesiser uses electricity and can produce the sounds of other instruments also. However, its soul is the piano. The Grand Piano is still used in affluent Western homes for solo performances. As the name suggests, the instrument is bigger than others. It is a symbol of elegance, style and in some cases, tradition.  The White House has a Grand Piano which is used occasionally to entertain important heads of states and other dignitaries during banquets.

Legendary Western classical composers like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven used the instrument to compose some of the most memorable symphonies.  Recall the jingle of the Titan watch advertisement. It was originally composed on the piano by Mozart and is known as Symphony 25 (composed in 1773).

Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the band Queen, was known for his terrific stage performances. He played the instrument himself occasionally during his concerts. Sir Elton John also uses it extensively. The song “Candle in the wind” was composed using the piano as the main instrument along with other modern accompaniments. The song was his tribute to Princess Diana, who died in a tragic car crash in 1997.

Although, its use is limited nowadays as it has been replaced by the synthesiser, it still has retained its old charm. Some notable manufacturers of piano today are Aeolian, Yamaha, Zimmermann and others.