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The Piano
Overview:
Join Active Minds for a journey into the beautiful and fiery world of the piano. We’ll investigate the instrument from its humble 17th century origins to its ascendance as the social center of salons and parlors of the 19th century and the instrument of choice for great pianist/composers such as Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin and Rachmaninov. We’ll also listen to modern pianist interpretations and discuss how piano playing has changed over time. No piano knowledge required.
Key Lecture Points:
• Unbelievable as it may seem by today’s standards, the piano fell into near obscurity before the middle of the 18th Century.
• It was literally a harp, turned on its side with strings plucked by a musician pressing keys made of wooden strips covered with ivory.
• It was difficult to play, not very loud and unpopular at first. It was a wonderful tool, however, for composers who could see their music in visible patterns laid out before their eyes in a portable medium smaller than a bulky organ.
• Composers continued to write for the instrument with the faith that it would catch on. Through some clever marketing to nobility, the courts of Europe decided they all had to have one, or two, or more.
• When Vienna became the cultural capital of Europe, composers such as Haydn and Mozart popularized the instrument to a wider audience, and hence more pianos were made.
• The piano also grew from a slight, quiet and delicate instrument, ultimately into the sturdy, robust and expressive instrument we know today.
• The Industrial Revolution allowed piano makers to use better steel for the strings and the intricate support system. The instrument went from five octaves to seven octaves—more notes for composers such as Beethoven to utilize.
• During the Romantic Era, it was the instrument of choice for musicians who wanted to express their passionate individuality and freedom. Composers such as Schubert, Mendelssohn, Liszt and Chopin began to write prolifically for the piano.
• As the popularity of the instrument grew throughout the educated middle-class, different sized pianos were made to fit onto parlors and living-rooms and piano music was everywhere. The family piano became the center of activity on Saturday night. Usually, there was a piano teacher seemingly around every corner.
• In 1850, 50,000 pianos were made worldwide. By 1920, 600,000 pianos were manufactured. Today, nearly 1-million per year are sold and are considered a worthwhile financial investment.
Exploration Questions:
• Are there any famous composers who were not proficient at the piano?
• How was Beethoven’s piano different from today’s models?
• Why did pianos fall out of favor in American homes?
Reflective Questions:
• Did (Does) your family gather around the piano to listen to music and sing?
• Who was (is) your favorite pianist?
• What is your favorite work or tune on piano?
More to Explore:
• Piano History: www.pianorestoring.com
• Great Pianists: www.pianoworld.com
• History of Steinway: www.steinway.com
Books For Further Reading:
• Parakilas, James. Piano Roles: A New History of the Piano. Yale University Press, 2002,
320 pages. Three hundred years of piano history are presented in a fine book which considers the place of the piano in classical and popular music alike. From the design, manufacturing and styles of the piano to the individuals who made their mark in music history with the piano, this includes a delightful range of color drawings and illustrations along with a lively history certain to delight any avid fan of the instrument. Click here to order.
• Schonberg, Harold. The Great Pianists: From Mozart to the Present. Simon & Schuster;1987, 528 pages. This book educates you, yet is highly entertaining at the same time. The author was a highly respected music critic for the New York Times for many years and was in fact the first music critic ever to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. He knows his subject inside out and is a wealth of information. In this book he presents the story of the piano, from Bach to the present day, and he does it by describing and discussing the personalities of the many pianists who contributed to the history of the instrument. Click here to order.
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