Development of Piano music
Possibly one of the most familiar Baroque keyboard pieces, the Well-Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach was originally written for a clavichord or harpsichord. In this comparison, you would also hear Scarlatti’s Sonata in E Major K.380 played on both the Harpsichord and the Piano.
As the keyboard instrument developed and changed over time, so did the music that was written for it. Notably, from the harpsichord to the modern-day piano, the keyboard instrument has evolved from a smaller 4 to 6-octave instrument with little control over volume and touch, to a 7-octave instrument that provides the player with a greater dynamic range, a more responsive action and sufficient power to be heard above a full ensemble.
As the piano officially replaced the harpsichord in the classical era, the effect on the music written was evident; pieces became more complex, expressive of moods, dramatic in character and technically demanding. Some of the hardest piano pieces such as Beethoven’s Hammerklavier and Mozart’s Piano Sonata in D Major K.576 were written during this period.
In the golden age of the piano, Romantic era compositions such as Chopins’s Nocturne in E flat Major or Liszt’s Liebestraum No.3 took on an emotional and dreamy mood, often evoking a sense of reflection or melancholy and yearning.
As the piano instrument became widely popular in the homes of amateur players, focus was also given to solo keyboard works written for settings outside the recital hall. What are some of your favourite piano pieces?