Fortepiano

E154453

The fortepiano is an early version of the piano, used from the 18th to early 19th centuries, known for its lighter touch and more delicate, transparent sound compared to the modern instrument.

All labels observed (4)

Label Occurrences
Fortepiano canonical 2
Viennese fortepiano 1
Viennese school of piano building 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (51)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Early piano
Keyboard musical instrument
associatedWithGenre Classical period music
Early Romantic music
constructionMaterial Iron reinforcement in later instruments
Wooden frame
developedInPeriod 18th century
hasActionType Hammer action
hasCharacteristic Lighter frame than modern piano
Lighter touch than modern piano
More delicate sound than modern piano
More transparent sound than modern piano
Narrower dynamic range than modern piano
Shorter sustain than modern piano
Smaller keyboard compass than modern piano
Thinner strings than modern piano
hasComponent Dampers
Hammers
Keyboard
Pedals or knee levers
Soundboard
Strings
hasMechanism Leather-covered hammers
Single escapement action
hasPlayingTechnique Light articulation
Sensitive control of dynamics
hasSoundQuality Clear attack
Quick decay
historicalPrecursorOf Bösendorfer piano
surface form: Modern grand piano

Modern upright piano
originatedIn Europe
performancePractice Historically informed performance
relatedInstrument Clavichord
Harpsichord
Modern piano
replacedBy Modern piano
subclassOf Chordophone
Piano
tunedTo Equal temperament or circulating temperaments
typicalRange About five octaves in early instruments
Up to six or more octaves in later classical instruments
usedByComposer Franz Schubert
Joseph Haydn
Ludwig van Beethoven
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
usedFor Chamber music
Classical-era keyboard music
Orchestral continuo parts
Solo performance
usedInPeriod 18th century
Early 19th century

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (5)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Piano hasPredecessor Fortepiano
Bartolomeo Cristofori notableWork Fortepiano
this entity surface form: gravicembalo col piano e forte
Clavichord isForerunnerOf Fortepiano
Johann Andreas Streicher partOf Fortepiano
this entity surface form: Viennese school of piano building
Nannette Streicher styleOfInstrument Fortepiano
this entity surface form: Viennese fortepiano