The piano : An Inspirational Style to the Piano and Its Place in History

Beyond its function as a machine for making music, the piano fulfills many roles - centerpiece of the home, treasured heirloom, showcase for technical and artistic skills of the highest order. Of course, this same assembly of metal and wood is also the inspiration for some of the finest music ever written, throughout every genre. What is the secret of the piano's appeal?

This lavishly illustrated book charts the development of the piano from its earliest beginnings, through the first efforts at large scale manufacture, to the golden age of piano making, and on to the present day. It is also an invaluable guide to understanding, selecting, and earing for a new or secondhand piano.

The piano, written by expert restorer and technician John-Paul Williams, provides:
- Comprehensive portraits of over 40 major manufacturers and famous composers' favorite makes
- Lists, Charts, and tables to help identify, date, and value your piano
- An in-depth illustrated breakdown of the anatomy of the piano
- Step-by-step photographs showing how a piano can be cared for and restored.

CONTENIDO:

History and development
- Introduction
- Development of the piano
- Pianos of the great composers
- Anatomy of the piano

Directory of piano makers

Maintenance
- Choosing a piano
- The restorer's art
- Caring for a piano

Glossary
Index
Bibliography
Credits