Christofori

Biography

Christofori is referenced twice in this section: first as the originator of the "Christofori action," which Backers modified for English use (with the hammer rising at the end rather than the center of the key), a change that in turn helped inspire Broadwood's 1781 square-piano innovation; and second among the makers -- alongside Silbermann and Stein -- whose early pianofortes possessed the wing (grand) form. No further biographical detail, such as dates or nationality, is supplied within these pages. Christofori (i.e. Bartolomeo Cristofori) is named by Dolge, together with Silbermann, as one of the early piano makers whose hammers consisted simply of a small wooden block covered with soft leather. This simple construction represents the starting point in Dolge's account of the historical development of the piano hammer, which subsequently grew wedge-shaped and gained layered leather and felt coverings as instruments required greater tone volume. In the author's closing survey of the national schools of piano building, Christofori is cited as the point at which Italy reached the height of its piano-making achievement, in the year 1720. The passage treats this moment as the peak and effective end of Italy's leadership in the field, since development is said to have then passed to Germany. No further biographical detail—birth, death, training, or specific inventions—is given in this passage. Christofori is credited by Dolge, on documentary evidence produced by Dr. Ed. F. Rimbault, with priority as inventor of the pianoforte. Dolge is critical of Dr. Oscar Paul's claim that Christofori had copied Schröter's invention, calling it evidence of Paul's ignorance of piano-action construction. A "genuine Christofori piano e forte" is noted as part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Highlights

• His action -- later modified by Backers for use in England -- is discussed as an antecedent of Broadwood's square piano innovation.
• His early pianofortes, along with those of Silbermann and Stein, are noted as possessing the "wing" form.
• Used a hammer consisting of a small wooden block covered with soft leather, per Dolge's account of the earliest piano hammers
• Credited, on documentary evidence produced by Dr. Ed. F. Rimbault, with priority as inventor of the pianoforte
• Falsely accused by Dr. Oscar Paul of copying Schröter's invention, a claim Dolge dismisses
• A genuine Christofori piano e forte is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
• Named as the maker with whom Italy's piano-making 'reached its height' in 1720.
• After him, the text says Italy 'has never since been a factor' in piano production.

Source

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911), pp. 97, 429, 433.

Public domain.