Description: From its primeval beginnings to the 1970s the pianoforte has experienced an intriguing history that is here revealed in a lucid text for both the expert and the layperson. The primitive forms of tube zither developed into the more advanced dulcimer-type instruments, which were superseded by the clavichord, the harpsichord, and the spinet - the immediate forebears of the pianoforte. The progress of grand, square, and upright pianos is followed from the first manifestation in the early eighteenth century to the present day.
Woven into the narrative are descriptions of the musical and social environments in which the piano made its way. The changing styles of pianists receive much attention, as do the worldwide group teaching methods that are currently in vogue.
David Grover brings a particular expertise to his book beacuse of his personal experience as a piano manufacturer, and his discussion of the piano_s technical development is of special interest. Even the chapter explaining the construction of the mature piano combines readability with expert analysis. Lavishly illustrated with diagrams and rare photographs, the book presents an awesome amount of fascinating fact in a visually appealing format.
Much new material is covered in the sections on the late nineteenth and the twentieth centuries. The author is well known in European piano-making circles, and his wide knowledge makes his closing chapters on the last thirty years especially significant.
