Pianoforte and Piano

[amee]

hey guys

Can anyone tell me the main differences between the pianoforte and today's piano?  Or isn't there any?  Are they just two different names for the same thing?

[lea]

hey amee

isnt the pianoforte same as the piano

[frederic]

I think the pianoforte (or previously called fortepiano) had a very small hammer and was leather instead of felt as todays. And it was much quieter than todays instrument.

[tosca1]

The fortepiano was fundamentally a piano which evolved from the Cristofori invention.  It was a precursor to the modern piano but it had no iron frame and a smaller keyboard of about 66 keys.  As Frederic has said the hammers were leather covered.  The sound was of course much less powerful than today's modern piano, but this instrument still has many enthusiasts as  much keyboard music of the classical period was written for the fortepiano.
Regards,
Robert.

[rachfan]

Yes, the modern term "piano" is a shortening of the word pianoforte.  As to the precursor fortepiano, it can still be heard now and then as a period instrument, sometimes in chamber works and even in fortepiano recitals.  It affords one the opportunity to hear what Schubert actually heard when he played such pianos, for instance.  But  I would not want a steady diet of it!