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Topic: The Significance of Piano as a Musical Instrument in the Classical Period  (Read 14658 times)

Offline bach_ko

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As i know, the pianoforte was developing during classical period, it allows performer to do many things thus it stands out as a popular keyboard instrument, the musical genre of piano is expanded because many composers started to focus on piano repertoires (not necessary solo, but also chamber works and concertos)

May i know how the pianoforte has been developed from baroque to classical period? apart from the evolution of the mechanism, why is the piano became more and more popular in 18th century? how does this relate to the growing importance of the classical keyboard concertos as apublic musical genre? what significant role did the piano play for composers who compose classical piano concerto? anyone could reply me?

Offline mattgreenecomposer

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This sounds to me like your doing a high school report or something and want answers...he heh.

Anyways, The piano became more popular in the 18th century and especially the 19th century because there was a shift from sacred vocal music to secular instrumental music starting about 1600 and going until early 1800's.  Remember the idea of composing music for "arts" sake is a very new concept that really didnt develop until Beethoven and finally fully matured with the romantic period.  (Roughly 1827 to 1900.)  Vocal music encompasses a very limited range as well as many of the orchestral instruments at the time.  Having 8 octaves on a piano was deemed unnecessary in say -Montiverdi's time.  The 7 octave piano wasnt developed until the 1820's.  Partly because the cast iron frame to support such tension wasnt developed until after the industrial revolution.
As orchestration techniques developed and orchestras got larger, composers and pianists wanted a bigger louder instrument to compete with the orchestras.  Of course, composers use the piano to compose their works themselves and want to imitate the instruments they are writing for (orchestral reduction) but more importantly the piano needed to compete with the huge sound of the orchestra in the romantic concerto.  An Iron frame was needed for volume etc.

Hope this helps...Im sure you can google piano or something and find better info.
Download free sheet music at mattgreenecomposer.com

Offline bach_ko

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 61
This sounds to me like your doing a high school report or something and want answers...he heh.

Anyways, The piano became more popular in the 18th century and especially the 19th century because there was a shift from sacred vocal music to secular instrumental music starting about 1600 and going until early 1800's.  Remember the idea of composing music for "arts" sake is a very new concept that really didnt develop until Beethoven and finally fully matured with the romantic period.  (Roughly 1827 to 1900.)  Vocal music encompasses a very limited range as well as many of the orchestral instruments at the time.  Having 8 octaves on a piano was deemed unnecessary in say -Montiverdi's time.  The 7 octave piano wasnt developed until the 1820's.  Partly because the cast iron frame to support such tension wasnt developed until after the industrial revolution.
As orchestration techniques developed and orchestras got larger, composers and pianists wanted a bigger louder instrument to compete with the orchestras.  Of course, composers use the piano to compose their works themselves and want to imitate the instruments they are writing for (orchestral reduction) but more importantly the piano needed to compete with the huge sound of the orchestra in the romantic concerto.  An Iron frame was needed for volume etc.

Hope this helps...Im sure you can google piano or something and find better info.

hi, mattgreenecomposer! thanks a lot for ur information.  As i know composer started to write more and more music for piano, for instance, Mozart wrote 27 piano concertos and Beethoven wrote piano concertos. How does it (development of piano) relates to the emergance of piano concerto? What significat roles did the piano play for composers who composed classical piano concertos? I have came out some points of this topic..

Origins of the concerto
-originated from the concerto grosso from the baroque period, which contrasted a small group of instruments with the rest of the orchestra.
-ritornello form - vivaldi

*piano is more popularly used, piano learner was increased
*It produces richer texture and harmony, it stands out as a solo instrument without accompaniment
*tone quality is totally diferent from orchestral instrument, onctrast can be successfuly made in a concerto piece. for instance, in a piano concerto, the piano solo would not being doubled by the orchestral member (there is only one piano, whereas a clarinet concerto, clarinet is doubled by the the clarinets in wind ensemble.
*Able to compete with orchestra due to the instrument;s volume, wider range of notes, display higher technical difficulties, it allows performer to do more things.

What significat roles did the piano play for composers who composed classical piano concertos?
 

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