The History and Classical Era of Piano Essay Example

Introduction

The piano is a critical instrument in the western music style. The device has had a rich and eventful history. Pianos were first used in the 17th century and are still common today as more and more individuals use them for entertainment and the eye-catching classiness of the instrument itself. The social history of the piano addresses the role of the device in homes from its creation in the 17th -18th century to its widespread use today. Like many innovations, the piano has developed with numerous characters responsible for different extents of its development over the past centuries.

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Early years

The piano made its first entrance in the music industry in the 17th century. The first piano is believed to have been invented in Italy in 1709 by Bartolomeo Cristofori (Burkholder, Grout and Palisca 66).

At the time of its discovery, the piano was a speculative invention, and as such, it was an exceedingly expensive item. The piano was created to meet the necessity to control the underlying forces of touch, which was not achieved by the harpsichord. "The Cristofori piano was wing-shaped like our grand pianos, with a curved body and a lid that could be raised" (Ehrlich 97). Before it gained its current status, the piano was primarily associated with the royal families such as the King of Portugal and Prussia. All the way through the 18th and mid-19th century, most families could still not afford the expensive instrument. However, the piano quickly superseded other keyboard instruments such as its predecessor the harpsichord, making it more prevalent in Europe. Both musicians and non-players were thrilled to learn how to create music and play the instruments.

Pianos and women

The history of Western art music is mostly attributed to male artists, with few mentions of female musicians and composers. On the contrary, keyboard instruments in the 17th were played mainly by women and young girls who came from wealthy families. (Ehrlich 118). Visiting piano teachers taught their children to play the piano, more often girls than boys. Learning to play a musical instrument was an important renaissance skill and was considered an achievement for a young, well-mannered lady at that time. At that time is widely believed that a young woman's ability to play the piano made her a suitable marriage partner. Women who learned the skill as children would continue to play as adults to entertain their households.

The choice of instruments was however restricted where devices that had to be put in the mouth were thought to be inappropriate. The violin, piano, and harpsichord were regarded in a more positive light and were believed to be appropriate activities for women, giving them an opportunity to keep them occupied during the day and entertain their families in the nightfall. For example, Emma Wedgewood who had achieved a fair level of expertise was taught how to play by famous musician Frederic Chopin. When she got married to Charles Darwin, Emma continued playing the piano daily or her husband who attended supportively. Additionally, families that owned an instrument were accorded a superior status: having a piano indicated that the household had plenty of money to spare for such a luxurious item. The number of female pianists increased, and the skills of these female piano students later inspired the work of Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven who devoted their time to play to their female associates (Burkholder, Grout and Palisca 201). However, only men were allowed to have careers as concert musicians with an essential exclusion of Clara Schumann.

The spread of the piano

When the piano was invented in the 17th century, it failed to catch everyone's attention because it was costly and the harpsichord was a more popular instrument at that time. Also, the piano was very challenging to play, and thus not many people learned how to play it. Very few people had heard of the piano until after Johann Zumpe refined Cristofori's original piano. He introduced bass and treble properties as well as new separate sections of black keys. The widespread use of the piano began when Johann Christian Bach, a well-known music master played on the first-ever piano concert in 1786 (Leppert and McClary 99-117). Queen Charlotte had also taken a keen interest in the instrument, and together with Johann's fame, the piano became a symbol of social status. Before long, the piano replaced the harpsichord as the favored instrument of that time. The piano then entered a phase of rapid methodological and commercial development such that during the early Victorian period, the piano transpired as the tried and tested widespread instrument.

Piano- A status symbol

Between the 19th to 20th centuries, the popularity and use of the piano in the middle class in Europe and North America rose tremendously. This rapid growth resulted in the rise of national importance of the piano, as more households could afford pianos and piano teachers. The piano, just like the harpsichord, had become an essential symbol of a family's social class. Ehrlich maintains that the piano grew popular because for Victorians it symbolized "respectability, achievement, and status" and that "it lent itself readily to self-improvement, a cardinal Victorian virtue" (Ehrlich 97). As time progressed, the popularity of the piano spread such that "even among small traders and artisans precious time and money was diverted to secure, at least for the daughters, piano sheet music, teachers and a musical education" (Hildebrandt and Goodman 124).

The piano's popularity also grew in in public organizations like schools and select hotels. The pianos popularity also spread to other countries as well, such as Japan. With its rising demand, many families could now afford pianos, and it became a primary source of music in the household to these families. Parents encouraged their children who showed exceptional talent to pursue professional careers. Professional pianists wrote books and piano playing instructions which sold widely.

The decline of the piano

The piano maintained its favored status among households until the rise in technology. New technology such as the player Piano (1990), the phonograph (World War I) and the radio (1920) made it possible for music to be enjoyed in passive form (Shepherd and Devine 242). Piano playing as a form of indoor recreation considerably declined during that period. Piano sales dropped severely as well during the great depression of the 1930s, which was identified as the most significant blow in the piano business. A further decline in the use of pianos was contributed by the widespread acceptance of electronic keyboards in the 20th century. Despite its poor music, the electronic keyboards became more popular because it was flexible and better to the presentation of prevalent music. Nonetheless, the piano remains one of the most popular and most played instrument in the 21st century.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the social history of the piano addresses the role of the instrument in homes from its creation in the 17th -18th century to its widespread use today. Pianos were mainly associated with male players, and it symbolized a wealthy social status. The pianos used at the moment tend to be of superior class and are more costly than those used in the 17th century. The use of keyboards has become popular in schools such that many parents of both boys and girls can afford piano lessons. Many parents and adults still feel the need to learn how to play the piano which not only opens a door into the classical world of music but also teaches concentration and self-discipline.

References

Burkholder, J. Peter, Donald Jay Grout, and Claude V Palisca. A History Of Western Music. 9th ed. W. W. Norton, 2014, 2014. Print.

Ehrlich, Cyril. Piano, The. 1st ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990. Print.

Ehrlich, Cyril. Piano, The. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990. Print.

Hildebrandt, Dieter, and Harriet Goodman. Pianoforte. London: Hutchinson, 1988. Print.

Leppert, Richard D, and Susan McClary. Music And Society. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, 2001. Print.

Shepherd, John, and Kyle Devine. The Routledge Reader On The Sociology Of Music. 20th ed. Routledge, 2015, 2015. Print.