The music of life

Bartolomeo Cristofori, a young musical inventor, attempts to create an instrument than can do "pianissimo" sounds that are light and soft, as well as "forte" sounds, that are strong and loud. When Prince Ferdinando de Medici invites him to his court in Florence, Bartolomeo sees and hears goldsmiths' tiny hammers and blacksmiths' big sledgehammers making both sounds and realizes hammers are the key to a new, beautiful instrument. Includes a timeline, notes on today's piano, and links to piano selections online.