How I invented the piano

"How I Invented the Piano

By Bartolomeo Cristofori


I, Bartolomeo, live in the great city of Florence in the country of Italy. I was appointed to the Florentine court of the Grand Prince Ferdinando de' Medici in 1688 to tune and maintain harpsichords (O'brien, Michael, Cristofori, Bartolomeo, 1). By the year of 1716 I was appointed custode (steward) of the Medici collection of musical instruments (Grove, 1). I had come from Padua before my appointment to the Florentine court of the Grand Prince Ferdinando de' Medici Padua is where I learned my trade as a craftsman of harpsichords (Grove, 1).
At the time of my appointment as custode of the Medici collection of musical instruments, I was renting my own shop, where I produced harpsichords. In my shop I employed two assistants, to help me with my work load (Grove, 1). This shop is where I learned of the great demand for a new type of keyboard instrument. Composers and musicians were looking for a keyboard instrument wit...