Piano Piano History & Composers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Who is credited with inventing the piano around 1700?
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Bartolomeo Cristofori (Correct answer)
- Antonio Stradivari
- Domenico Scarlatti
Correct answer: Bartolomeo Cristofori
Bartolomeo Cristofori, an Italian instrument maker working in Florence, invented the piano around 1700.
Question 2: What was the original name Cristofori gave to his new instrument?
- Pianoforte
- Clavichord
- Fortepiano di ferro
- Gravicembalo col piano e forte (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Gravicembalo col piano e forte
Cristofori called his invention 'gravicembalo col piano e forte,' meaning 'harpsichord with soft and loud,' which was later shortened to pianoforte.
Question 3: With which musical period is Ludwig van Beethoven primarily associated?
- Baroque
- Classical/Early Romantic (Correct answer)
- High Romantic
- Impressionist
Correct answer: Classical/Early Romantic
Beethoven bridges the Classical and Romantic periods, with his early works following Classical models and later works pioneering Romantic expression.
Question 4: Who composed the famous 'Moonlight Sonata' (Piano Sonata No. 14)?
- Franz Schubert
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Ludwig van Beethoven (Correct answer)
- Frederic Chopin
Correct answer: Ludwig van Beethoven
The Moonlight Sonata was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1801, dedicated to his student Countess Giulietta Guicciardi.
Question 5: Which composer is often called the 'Poet of the Piano'?
- Franz Liszt
- Frederic Chopin (Correct answer)
- Robert Schumann
- Claude Debussy
Correct answer: Frederic Chopin
Frederic Chopin is known as the 'Poet of the Piano' for his lyrical, expressive, and uniquely idiomatic piano compositions.
Question 6: What nationality was the virtuoso pianist and composer Franz Liszt?
- German
- Austrian
- Hungarian (Correct answer)
- Polish
Correct answer: Hungarian
Franz Liszt was Hungarian, born in 1811 in the Kingdom of Hungary, and is considered one of the greatest pianists in history.
Piano Piano History & Composers 1
Who is credited with inventing the piano around 1700?