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Rated: E · Book · Educational · #2105953

One hundred facts that are interesting but ultimately useless.

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#904562 added February 13, 2017 at 6:50pm
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"Piano"
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"Piano"
- etymology / music -

​​The word "piano" (referring to the musical instrument) is an abbreviation of "pianoforte", which is in turn an abbreviation of the instrument's original Italian name, "gravicembalo col piano e forte" ("keyboard with soft and loud"). The name referred to the device's capacity to variably play at loud volumes as well as softer, more expressive levels. This was an advantage over its two contemporary competitors, the harpsichord (which didn't allow for much expressive control) and the clavichord (which was simply too quiet in concert settings).


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