Evolution of the piano

The first pianos were built around 1700 and unlike the case with many other instruments, we know precisely what the first pianos were like since several of them still exist. These early pianos were patterned after Italian harpsichords of the time, with the plucking mechanism of the harpsichord replaced by an “action” mechanism that enabled hammers to strike the strings. The first pianos had a compass of four octaves with brass and iron strings, and a frame composed of wood. The design of those instruments along with the various stages of their evolution into the modern piano with its 88 notes, steel strings and a cast iron plate will be described. The manner in which this evolution was driven by the needs of composers and musicians along with advances in technology will also be discussed.