For the arrangement of the keys on a piano keyboard, see Musical keyboard. This arrangement was inherited from the harpsichord without change, with the trivial exception of the colour scheme (white for notes in the C major scale and black for other notes) which became standard for pianos in the late 18th century.
Many parts of a piano are made of materials selected for extreme sturdiness. In quality pianos, the outer rim of the piano is made of a hardwood, normally maple or beech. According to Harold A. Conklin, the purpose of a sturdy rim is so that "the vibrational energy will stay as much as possible in the soundboard instead of dissipating uselessly in the case parts, which are inefficient radiators of sound." The rim is normally made by laminating flexible strips of hardwood to the desired shape, a system that was developed by Theodore Steinway in 1880.
The square piano had horizontal strings arranged diagonally across the rectangular case above the hammers and with the keyboard set in the long side, it is variously attributed to Silbermann and Frederici and was improved by Petzold and Babcock. Built in quantity through the 1890s (in the United States), Steinway's celebrated iron framed over strung squares were more than two and a half times the size of Zumpe's wood framed instruments that were successful a century before, their overwhelming popularity was due to inexpensive construction and price, with performance and sonority frequently restricted by simple actions and closely spaced strings.
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Such was the case with Wilhelm Backhaus, a true 'lion' of the piano. He was the last exponent of a style of playing that was centered in Leipzig. It emphasized a transparent approach to the music ...
Decca & Philips Worldwide | Help | Contact | Terms of Use : Wilhelm Backhaus ... Beethoven. Diabelli Piano Variations/Piano Concertos 1-3. 433 891-2 (3CDs)
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Compilations of Wilhelm Backhaus classics and listen to its finest classical music Wilhelm ... Solo Piano Works (Backhaus) (1932-1936) 8.111041: Great Pianists (1926-1945) 8.110783-84
Wilhelm Backhaus, piano/ Vienna Philharmonic/ Karl Boehm. Studio: EuroArts DVD 2072058 . Video: 4:3, color . Audio: PCM Stereo . Length: 73 minutes . Rating: **** The Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 was recorded ...
