Binks Gallery Tour – Pianos

The piano is an acoustic, stringed musical instrument invented in Italy by Bartolomeo Cristofori around the year 1700. The strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material. Modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt where some early pianos used leather.

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Grand Pianoforte

Maker Name: John Broadwood and Sons Date Made: 1793 Made In: London Accession No: 4490

This piano was made in the same year the company produced its last harpsichord. Using similar materials to make both kinds of keyboards, so their early pianos looked very like harpsichords. The casework is veneered in much the same way as in harpsichords, and the frame is entirely of wood, but the strings have a divided bridge The sound is warm and has something of a “halo”, rather than a clean, distinct attack and silence.

Square Pianoforte

Maker Name: Johannes Christoph Zumpe Date Made: 1768 Made In: London Accession No: 4335

Emerging after the harpsichord square pianos became extremely popular and their maker Zumpe became extremely wealthy. He had a succession of business partners and returned back to Fürth in 1784 the same year as his death. This English square pianoforte encompasses 58 notes built from bichord stringing throughout and has covered strings in bass. It was lent to St Cecilia's Hall by the Trustees of the National Museums of Scotland in 1908.

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