The piano has its origins in stringed keyboard instruments like the clavichord and harpsichord that were developed in Europe in the 14th-16th centuries. By the 18th century, instrument makers were experimenting with ways to better control dynamics by varying the hammer strike on strings.
The piano as we know it emerged around 1700 when Bartolomeo Cristofori of Florence devised the first pianoforte, a keyboard instrument with hammers that strike the strings rather than pluck them. This allowed the piano to produce soft and loud tones based on key pressure. The piano was later developed further by manufacturers including Gottfried Silbermann and became popular in European courts and among composers like Mozart. Piano technology improved in the 1800s as metal frames were added for greater stability and synthetic ivory was used for keys.
And while there are lots of people who know how to play this wonderful instrument, it is not every day that we see people that are actually excellent at it. But this video has a man is super-talented and it’s a joy to watch.
This is French pianist Carl Hans, who goes by the name “Carl Le Pianiste,” playing a public piano in the Gard Saint-Lazare train station in Paris, France. The performance is so good, the French tourism bureau picked it up for their “Explore France” channel used to attract tourists! He is too good. Watch the video below and please leave us a Facebook comment to let us know what you thought!
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