The pianoforte – three centuries of life

Abstract

This paper intends to provide an outline of the most crucial moments that characterize the evolutions in Europe’s musical art creation since the beginning of the eighteenth century. The paper presents the most important events and developments of the musical life, with a special focus on the Mediterranean cultural area and the outstanding contribution of the Italian composers and musicians. It was due to their extraordinary breakthroughs in terms of style and performance that created the prerequisites for the apparition of a new and novel and revolutionary instrument - the pianoforte. The first pianoforti created by Bartolomeo Cristofori included all the essential parts of modern pianos. The instrument was further improved by J.S.Bach, subsequently leading to the development of two great schools of pianomakers.