Piano Music

The piano was invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori of Italy in the 1600s. The word piano is short for pianoforte. Piano means soft, and forte means loud. The instrument responds to subtle nuances in the pianist's touch which affect the speed at which the hammers hit the strings, resulting in varied dynamics from very soft to very loud. Large concert grand pianos are used for public concerts because their longer strings produce a better sound with truer overtones. Grand pianos allow pianists greater control, as the hammers move vertically on horizontal strings, returning by gravity which produces greater consistency. However, a well-regulated upright piano can play smoother than a poorly maintained grand piano. Digital pianos generally do not include the sympathetic vibration of other strings, so they do not sound exactly like acoustic pianos, but the technology is constantly being improved.