Dimensions and characteristics of the piano
The piano undoubtedly deserves this name as the largest instrument among all those that are in common musical use. Of course, not only because of its size and weight, this term stuck to the piano, but above all because of its sonic qualities and amazing interpretative possibilities on this particular instrument.
The piano is a keyboard hammer string instrument and its standard scale ranges from A2 to c5. It has 88 keys and the sound from the instrument is obtained by pressing a key which is connected to a hammer mechanism hitting the string. We can find concert pianos with more keys, e.g. 92 or even 97 as is the case with the Bösendorfer Modell 290 Imperial piano.
Several centuries passed before the present form of the contemporary piano took shape. Such a beginning of the evolutionary path was the 1927th century clavichord, which over the decades changed its form of structure, principles of operation and sound. This instrument was of interest to, among others, Johann Sebastian Bach. Over the years, however, the clavichord was more and more often replaced by the harpsichord, and in the mid-XNUMXth century the piano became the dominant instrument in salons. And it was from the eighteenth century that the piano began to take on its characteristic features known to us today in contemporary pianos. As we already refer to the great musical names, we cannot omit one of the most outstanding composers included in the so-called Viennese classics by Ludwig van Beethoven, who also contributed to the development of the piano. His progressive deafness required constructing an instrument loud enough to be heard, and it was during this period that the instruments grew larger and louder at the same time. As for the greatest and most outstanding musical individuality, both in terms of playing virtuosity and composition, to this day it is Fryderyk Chopin, whose work is known and appreciated all over the world, and to commemorate this outstanding pianist and composer since XNUMX every five years in Warsaw the most prestigious piano competition in the world, named after Frederic Chopin. It is during this competition that pianists from all over the world try to reflect and interpret the master’s work as faithfully as possible.
Due to the different length of pianos, we can divide them into four basic groups. From 140 to 180 cm these will be cabinet pianos, from 180 to 210 cm they will be salon pianos, from 210 to 240 cm for semi-concert pianos, and above 240 cm for concert pianos. Most often, concert pianos are 280 cm long, although there are also longer models, such as the Fazioli 308 cm long.
This instrument is perfect for both solo and team play. Due to its sound and interpretation possibilities, it is one of the instruments with the greatest articulation and dynamic possibilities. Its versatility makes it suitable for all musical genres, from classical to entertainment and jazz. It is often used both in small chamber ensembles and large symphony orchestras.
Without a doubt, having a piano at home is the dream of most pianists. It is not only prestige, but also a great pleasure to play. Unfortunately, mainly due to the large size of this instrument, hardly anyone can afford this instrument at home. Not only do you need to have a sufficiently large living room to put even the smallest cabinet piano in, but you also have to be able to bring it there. Of course, the price of this instrument can make you dizzy. The most expensive concert ones cost more or less the same as a luxury car, and you have to prepare tens of thousands of zlotys to buy the more budget car. Of course, used instruments are much cheaper, but in this case we will have to pay several thousand zlotys for a piano in good condition. For this reason, the vast majority of pianists decide to buy a piano.
The most prestigious piano producers include, among others: Fazioli, Kawai, Yamaha and Steinway, and it is the most common of these brands that the pianists participating in the Chopin Competition can choose the instrument on which they present their skills.
As we have already said, not everyone will be able to afford such an instrument as a piano, but if we have financial and housing possibilities, it is really worth investing in such an instrument. An interesting proposition is the Yamaha GB1 K SG2 grand piano, which is such a combination of elegance and tradition with modern solutions.
