Types of keyboard musical instruments Automatic translate

Keyboard musical instruments cover a wide range of instruments that produce sound by pressing keys. This category includes both acoustic and electronic instruments, each with unique characteristics and historical significance.

The piano is perhaps the most famous keyboard instrument. It works by hitting the strings with hammers when pressing the keys. The modern piano evolved from earlier stringed keyboard instruments such as the clavichord and harpsichord. The clavichord, dating back to the 14th century, produced sound by striking the strings with metal blades called tangents. The harpsichord, which became widespread in the Baroque era, plucks the strings with feathers when the keys are pressed, lacking the dynamic range of a piano.

The organ , another important keyboard instrument, dates back to ancient Greece. The pipe organ, the dominant form, produces sound by passing air through pipes of varying lengths and materials. Each pipe produces a specific tone, and the organist controls the sound using several keyboards and pedals. The electronic organ, developed in the 20th century, uses electronic circuitry to emulate the sound of traditional pipe organs.

The synthesizer , an electronic keyboard instrument, generates sound using various forms of synthesis such as subtractive, additive, and frequency modulation synthesis. It became widespread in the 1960s and 1970s, revolutionizing music production with its ability to create a vast array of sounds. Synthesizers can be analog, using continuous electrical signals, or digital, using discrete numerical values.

Digital pianos and electronic keyboards are modern instruments designed to emulate the sound and feel of an acoustic piano. They use digital sampling technology to reproduce the sound of a piano, and often include features such as weighted keys and touch sensitivity to simulate the tactile response of an acoustic piano.

The celesta , a keyboard instrument resembling a small piano, produces its sound by striking metal plates with hammers, which creates a bell-like tone. It is often used in orchestral music due to its characteristic, ethereal sound.

The accordion , a portable keyboard instrument, produces sound by forcing air through a reed as the player presses keys or buttons, expanding and contracting the bellows. It is widely used in folk and traditional music in various cultures.

The melodica is a free-floating instrument similar to an accordion that is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece and pressing keys on a small keyboard. It is often used in music education and by amateur musicians due to its simplicity and portability.

These diverse keyboard instruments have played a key role in the development of music across genres and eras. Each instrument has unique capabilities and sonic characteristics, contributing to a rich tapestry of musical expression.

The piano, one of the main keyboard instruments, has a rich history and evolution spanning several centuries. Its development can be traced to earlier stringed keyboard instruments such as the clavichord and harpsichord.

The clavichord , dating from the 14th century, was one of the earliest stringed keyboard instruments. It makes sound by striking the strings with metal blades called tangents when the keys are pressed. The clavichord allows for dynamic expression and vibrato, but has a relatively soft sound, making it more suitable for intimate settings rather than large performances.

Harpsichord , which became widespread in the Baroque era, works by plucking the strings with feathers when pressing the keys. Unlike the clavichord, the harpsichord does not have a dynamic range: the volume of the sound does not change depending on how hard the key is pressed. Despite this limitation, the harpsichord was widely used in ensemble and solo performances in the 16th to 18th centuries.

The modern piano was invented by the Italian Bartolomeo Cristofori around 1700. Cristofori’s invention eliminated the shortcomings of the harpsichord, allowing dynamics to be varied. A piano produces sound by striking the strings with felt-covered hammers, which immediately return to their original position after being struck, allowing the strings to vibrate freely. This mechanism, known as hammer action, allows the pianist to control the volume and duration of each note, allowing for greater expressiveness.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the piano underwent significant improvements. The advent of an iron frame, replacing a wooden one, made it possible to achieve greater string tension and a more powerful sound. Sébastien Erard’s development of a double escapement mechanism in 1821 made it possible to speed up the repetition of notes, increasing the instrument’s responsiveness.

The upright piano, a more compact version of the grand piano, was developed in the early 19th century. The vertical arrangement of the strings allowed it to be used in small spaces, making the piano more accessible to a wider audience.

In the 20th century, the advent of digital technology led to the creation of digital pianos and electronic keyboards. These instruments use digital sampling to reproduce the sound of an acoustic piano and often include features such as weighted keys and touch sensitivity to mimic the tactile response of a traditional piano. Digital pianos offer advantages such as portability, low maintenance costs, and the ability to produce a variety of sounds and effects.

The invention of the piano by Bartolomeo Cristofori eliminated the shortcomings of the harpsichord by creating a mechanism that allows the sound to be dynamically changed. The harpsichord produces sound by plucking the strings with feathers when the keys are pressed, so the volume of the sound does not change depending on how hard the key is pressed. The lack of dynamic range was a significant limitation.

A Cristofori piano, on the other hand, produces sound by striking the strings with felt-covered hammers. This hammer action allows the pianist to control the volume and duration of each note depending on how hard the keys are pressed. This ability for dynamic expression was a major advance, allowing the piano to produce both soft and loud sounds, and everything in between, thereby providing greater expressive capabilities compared to the harpsichord.