Stodart

Biography

Stodart, a London piano builder, is credited by Dolge with constructing the first concert piano, which he named the "Grand Pianoforte," about 1777. According to the text, the term "grand" as applied to this type of instrument originated with Stodart and was subsequently adopted by all English and American makers as the standard designation for the large concert piano. No further biographical detail is given. Stodart is named in the text as one of the inventors of his day with whom John Broadwood associated intimately, alongside Americus Backers, as part of Broadwood's practice of keeping in close touch with leading figures in his field while working on his innovations in piano construction. No further biographical detail is provided. From Spillane (1890): Stodart succeeded Backers around 1790 and made significant improvements to the character of the English grand piano. The firm bearing his name subsequently became noted throughout England and the United States for this form of instrument. Spillane also lists Stodart among the most noted piano makers active in Europe at the turn of the nineteenth century, alongside Stein, Broadwood, Pleyel, and Erard. Stodart, of London, invented in 1795 an upright piano in the form of a bookcase, which Spillane says came closer to the present style of instrument in design than earlier attempts, but the idea 'ended where it began' and was not developed further.

Highlights

• Built the first concert piano, called the "Grand Pianoforte," about 1777
• The word "grand" as applied to this instrument, first used by Stodart, was thereafter adopted by all English and American makers
• Named alongside Americus Backers as one of the inventors John Broadwood kept in close touch with while developing his piano innovations
• Succeeded Backers around 1790.
• Made significant improvements to the English grand piano; the Stodart firm became noted for this form throughout England and the United States.
• Named among the most noted piano makers in Europe at the start of the 19th century.
• Of London; invented an upright piano in 1795 shaped like a bookcase, an early step toward the modern upright form, though the idea went no further

Sources

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911), pp. 59, 244.

Daniel Spillane, History of the American Pianoforte (1890), pp. 21, 22, 33.

Public domain.