While we were away on our spring break, we missed one of those daily celebrations that the Internet so loves, and honors with a hashtag: #PianoDay. Fittingly, this was the eighty-eighth day of the year, with a day for each of a piano's keys.
But perhaps everyday should be piano day. In the world of instruments, pianos are relative newcomers. The first were invented by Venetian-born Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655-1732), who built instruments for the Medici court in Florence. The piano in this video is the earliest known to survive today, and is now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. For more information and additional photos, see the museum's entry here.
In this video, pianist Dongsok Shin performs the Sonata in d minor, K.9 by Domenico Scarlatti. Enjoy!
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Gorgeous! I like the idea that the piece was played on the instrument for which it was written - maybe not that specific piano, but for an instrument with the same sound quality.
I love the sound and the touch of the fortepiano. The hammer action (as opposed to the plectrum) made it possible to use loud and soft dynamics in an age which was growing increasingly enamored with high expression, assuring its popularity. The harpsichord slowly fell out of favor as the keyboard instrument of choice. Thanks for this post! Love that Scarlatti.
One of us -- Loretta Chase -- writes historical romance. One of us -- Susan Holloway Scott -- writes historical novels,and as Isabella Bradford, wrote historical romances, too.
There’s a big difference in how we use history. But we’re equally nuts about it. To us, the everyday details of life in the past are things to talk about, ponder, make fun of -- much in the way normal people talk about their favorite reality show.
We talk about who’s wearing what and who’s sleeping with whom. We try to sort out rumor or myth from fact. We thought there must be at least three other people out there who think history’s fascinating and fun, too. This blog is for them.
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4 comments:
I am amazed to find it sounds almost like a hybrid between a piano and a harpsichord
Wow! Thank you for that treat!
Gorgeous! I like the idea that the piece was played on the instrument for which it was written - maybe not that specific piano, but for an instrument with the same sound quality.
I love the sound and the touch of the fortepiano. The hammer action (as opposed to the plectrum) made it possible to use loud and soft dynamics in an age which was growing increasingly enamored with high expression, assuring its popularity. The harpsichord slowly fell out of favor as the keyboard instrument of choice. Thanks for this post! Love that Scarlatti.
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