Bartolomeo Christofori

Biography

Bartolomeo Christofori, sometimes called Christofori of Padua, is credited with inventing the pianoforte as a complete instrument. He completed a hammer action by 1707 and used it in an experimental instrument he called the 'piano e forte,' which was exhibited in 1711; a publication from that year contains a drawing of his action. Around 1720 he finished a true pianoforte, building a much stronger case than had been used for harpsichords in order to withstand heavier strings, and improving the action over his 1707 model by adding an escapement device, a back check to regulate the hammer's fall, and an individual damper connected directly to each hammer. This gave the player, through touch alone, the ability to produce both a delicate pianissimo and a strong fortissimo, something impossible on the clavichord or harpsichord. Christofori died in 1731; as far as the record shows he left no pupils, unless Gottfried Silbermann—who is believed to have come into possession of one of his pianofortes—is counted as one. His hammer action designs from 1707 and 1720 are illustrated in the text. Bartolomeo Christofori is claimed by Padua as its native son. By 1710, at age 27, he was living comfortably at the court of the Duke of Tuscany in Florence, where he built clavichords, spinets, and other musical instruments for the prince and his courtiers. The author speculates, without certainty, that either overexertion driven by his own genius or the indulgent court life may have shortened his life; he died in 1731 at only 48 years old. His lasting legacy was his invention of the piano e forte -- the instrument from which the modern piano descends. The author states that Italy produced no other great piano maker after Christofori.

Highlights

• Credited with the invention of the pianoforte as a complete instrument, called 'piano e forte,' with the hammer action completed by 1707
• Exhibited his instrument in 1711; a 1711 publication contains a drawing of his hammer action
• Built an improved, structurally stronger pianoforte around 1720 adding an escapement device, back check, and individual dampers, enabling both delicate pianissimo and strong fortissimo playing
• Died in 1731 leaving no known pupils, unless Silbermann is considered one
• Invented the piano e forte, the ancestor of the modern piano.
• Worked at the court of the Duke of Tuscany in Florence building clavichords, spinets, and other instruments.
• Died in 1731 at age 48, the last great Italian piano maker according to the author.

Source

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911), pp. 43, 44, 45, 46, 47.

Public domain.