Program notes
The documentary series, Une histoire de la musique à travers ses instruments (A History of Music Through its Instruments), takes a look at the history of the instruments used in Western music. Here, you can find out more about the piano.
The arrival of the clavichord, the first real keyboard instrument, dates back to the second half of the fourteenth century. Until the early eighteenth century, the clavichord had more keys than strings. A chord could be struck in different places, producing varied sounds. The instrument was then placed on a table. In the early eighteenth century, it was mounted on legs. The body and the solid walnut lid were often embellished with ivory or mother-of-pearl. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Germany was its chosen home.