NEHITA A.
In the musical language, p
or “p” stands for “piano”
which means soft. This
abbreviation has a much
deeper meaning, not only
for composers but also for
the inventor of the world’s
first piano.
One of the elements
of musical expression
is dynamics. Funnily
enough, the dynamics
(softness or loudness) of
a musical piece weren't
given much thought
until the 18th Century,
after which it spread like wildfire. To
understand why, we need to back track
to 17th century Italy.
Music In The Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, attempts
at stringed keyboard creations were
high. By the time they reached the 17th
Century, one of the stringed keyboards
called the Harpsichord, was well into its
mechanical and physical development
(even looked like an early version
of a piano). If we were to take a look
inside the Harpsichord, we could see
that the strings were
mechanically plucked
every time the player
depressed or pushed the
key down to play a note.
Now, the Harpsichord
was pretty loud for the
time. It also had a softer
setting, but couldn't
produce any dynamics.
One had to choose a
setting- loud or soft, and
stick with it.
Because of this, even composers
like J S Bach never really paid any
attention or gave instructions for
the volume.
A Royal
Family,
Cristofori,
and the
Piano
Ferdinando
de' Medici
(1663 – 1713)
was the
eldest son
of Cosimo
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III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany.
He is remembered today because of
his decision in 1688 to hire Bartolomeo
Cristofori, as a keeper of his large
musical collection, one that exceeded 75
items. Bartolomeo Cristofori, being an
expert Harpsichord maker from Italy,
was supported by Prince Ferdinando
with the money and time to pursue his
passion as an inventor. In response to
this, Cristofori came up with a series of
new instruments. The third instrument
was the now famous, piano in 1700.
Getting into the nitty-gritty of
Cristofori’s legacy, it began by designing
a stringed keyboard in which the
notes are struck by a hammer each
time the performer presses down with
their fingers. The hammer was crucial
to strike the string, contrary to the
Harpsichord that plucked the string.
This resulted in variations of volume.
If the intensity of the key press was
high, then greater was the force of the
hammer striking the strings. So, here’s
a single instrument, which permitted
a range of dynamics, including soft,
quiet playing and/or forte (f) which
meant loud playing. The Italian inventor
thoughtfully named the instrument un
cimbalo di piano e forte ("a keyboard
with soft and loud"), abbreviated as
pianoforte, fortepiano, and later piano.
Cristofori's new instrument took 11
years after its invention to receive
recognition from an Italian writer,
Scipione Maffei, who wrote an
enthusiastic article about it in 1711.
By the late 18th to early 19th century,
pianoforte or fortepiano was an
instrument on which Haydn, Mozart,
and the younger Beethoven wrote
their music. Tchaikovsky marked a
bassoon solo under the instruction of
pppppp, in the first movement of his
6th symphony, so that the player won't
miss the fact that it had to be played
very very softly. Cristofori’s fortepiano
was not only the start of dynamic range
and control, it was also the role model
for many approaches of piano-making
and evolution, ending in the late 19th
century with the Grand Piano.
So back to the golden question, who put
the “p” in piano? The inventor or the
composers who took a shot at expressing
dynamic range in their pieces? Let’s just
say both have to be given credit.