A Description and History of the Pianoforte and of the Older Keyboard Stringed Instruments (Classic Reprint)

A. J. Hipkins

ISBN 10: 0266205356 / ISBN 13: 9780266205357

Published by Forgotten Books, 2018

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 382072620

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Description and History of the Pianoforte and of the Older Keyboard Stringed Instruments (Classic Reprint)
• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication Date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0266205356
• ISBN 13: 9780266205357
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

A clear, affordable guide to the history of keyboard instruments from clavichord to pianoforte, with clear terms and explanations.

This edition surveys the evolution of keyboard stringed instruments, tracing innovations, makers, and types that shaped the modern piano. It highlights early upright designs, inventive actions, and the rise of the pianoforte, alongside the clavichord and spinet, to show how sound and technology changed over time.

You’ll discover concise definitions of common terms, notes on how different instruments were built and played, and context for how audiences and musicians engaged with these instruments in their eras. The material is presented in accessible language suitable for both new learners and history-minded players.

• Plain explanations of key instrument types: clavichord, virginal, spinet, cabinet and upright pianos.
• Background on pivotal makers and turning points in instrument design.
• Helpful glossaries of terms to demystify historical hardware and tuning concepts.
• Context for how these instruments sounded, how they were used, and how performance practices evolved.

Ideal for readers curious about the origins of the piano and the lineage of keyboard instruments, as well as players who want a grounded historical reference.