Marya and I enjoyed a fascimating afternoon learning about the history of the piano, musical notation, and how the sound qualities of available instruments influenced the music composed on them. Prof. David Kim of Whitman College charmed us with his knowledge and his musicality.
This is the pianoforte, the instrument that Beethoven would have composed on. This is a modern copy of the instrument dating back to 1790 that much of the great classical music was written on and for. Prof. Kim demonstrated the differences between this and modern pianos.
Kim's lecture was learned, interesting and entertaining, As he discussed the nature of notes played on the old Fortepiano versus the modern Steinway, I found myself thinking of the nature of sustain in the ukuleles that we play, and what that duration of sound does for our playing, or what it could do.
And finally, on request he played us a lovely piece on the fortepiano. I recorded one minute of it for you-enjoy