Ebony and Ivory

Bartolommeo Cristofori's
pianoforte (Italian for "soft-loud")
was a marvel of its time as the
first keyboard instrument capable of responding
to the instrumentalist's touch with a seemingly
vast range of volumes -- hence the name "piano
forte". A harpsichord, a similar instrument,
has a single volume, no matter how the keys
are struck, because the key introduces a
plucking action. The clavichord, its strings
struck by a brass tangent attached directly to
the keys, has its own dynamic range, but it is
a muted instrument, its loudest volume enough
to fill only a small chamber.

By contrast, the pianoforte, with its ability
to play to even a large hall either solo, with
accompaniment, or as accompaniment, has a huge
advantage over its predecessors. With two to
three strings tuned in unison to each pitch, a
seven octave range, and a hammer action that
responds to changes in finger pressure on the
keys, the piano has gained status for its
versatility.

Heart-strings