History of the Piano
The piano's origins date back to the early 18th century, when Italian instrument maker Bartolomeo Cristofori invented the first piano. Cristofori, who worked for the Medici family in Florence, created the instrument by combining elements of the harpsichord and the clavichord. The name "piano" comes from the Italian word for "soft," which refers to the instrument's ability to produce a wide range of dynamics, from soft and delicate to loud and powerful.