About this episode
The piano was invented around 1700 in Florence, Italy, by Bartolomeo Cristofori. Its original name was the fortepiano, combining the Italian words for loud (forte) and soft (piano), which highlighted its revolutionary ability to vary volume based on the player's touch—a feature the harpsichord lacked.
An acoustic piano is a complex machine with over 12,000 individual parts. Its steel strings are held under immense pressure, creating a combined tension of up to 30 tons that must be supported by a heavy cast-iron frame. Many grand pianos feature a middle sostenuto pedal, which allows the player to sustain select notes while playing others without a blur. The upright piano, a more compact version designed to fit in smaller homes, was invented by John Isaac Hawkins in 1800, making the instrument widely accessible. The world's largest playable piano, built by Adrian Mann, is over 18 feet long.
Want to learn more? Head over to my website www.funfactsdailypod.com and be sure to listen to my other podcasts Who ARTed: Weekly Art History for All Ages or Art Smart. For family fun, check out my son's podcast Rainbow Puppy Science Lab
Fun Facts Daily is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: [email protected]
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Get every episode summarized
Each time Fun Facts Daily publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
