The History of the Piano

[maren]

Hi… i’m writing a paper on the history of the piano, and i’ve found so many different stories it’s hard to know what to believe. i therefore was hoping that someone here could help me clear things out.
One of my sources says that the piano was made to be an “improved version“ of the harpsichord/cembalo (which was invented when someone found out how to attatch tangents to a psalterium). In other words a harpsichord/cembalo with hammers that was able to play both piano and forte (therefore the name pianoforte), ant that this piano was invented by Bartolomeo Cristoforis in 1709 (or as other sourcer states: “around 1710”/”in 1720”/etc). Another source claims that the origins of the piano was the dulcimer, which got tangents at some point. What’s correct?
Another thing i’ve had problems with, is where the clavichord fits in in all of this. What’s the difference between the clavichord and the early piano (the direction of the strings?), and did the clavichord affect the development of the piano since the attack (sp?) is in many ways the same? Is it wrong to claim that the modern piano goes back to the ducimer via the clavichord, while the cembalo/harpsichord is descended from the psalterium alone?
i’m also a bit curious about the psalterium and the ducimer. Are these two really the same instrument that is played in different ways (the psalterium with a plecter and the ducimer with hammers), or is there a difference between the instruments themselves? In my sources i find (amongst a lot of other things) that both of these instruments were created in “biblical time”/existed whn the old testament was being written. How old are they really? Are these instruments haprs, since they’ve got strings that are uncovered? Is a harp by the way still a harp if you attatch a wood or metal plate on one side of the strings?
The difference between the spinett, the virginal and the cembalo/harpsichord is another thing i find difficult to get a grip on. Is it so that the spinett is a “small cembalo of size” that is called spinett because it can’t be classified a cembalo? And that the virginal is a cembalo where the strings run along side with the tangents? Are there other differences?
And finally... How did the invention of the piano influence the composers?

Enjoy the rest of the year, by the way =)

- maren

[BoliverAllmon]

A dulcimer doesn't have hammers. I know that much.

boliver