Square piano

A square piano

The square piano is a piano that has horizontal strings arranged diagonally across the rectangular case above the hammers and with the keyboard set in the long side. It is variously attributed to Silbermann and Frederici and was improved by Petzold and Babcock. Built in quantity through the 1890s (in the United States), Steinway's celebrated iron framed over strung squares were more than two and a half times the size of Zumpe's wood framed instruments that were successful a century before. Their overwhelming popularity was due to inexpensive construction and price, with performance and sonority frequently restricted by single actions and double stringing.

Gallery

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  Square piano (though this example is not exactly rectangular)

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  Square piano with open lid

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  Swedish painting of woman playing a square piano.

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  English double action with check, ca.1830 (developed from Geib, 1786

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  American single action with overdamper, ca.1870 (developed from Petzold, 1809)

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  Zumpe single action, 1766

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  Erard double pilot action, 1790 "Zumpe's second action" ca.1788

See also

• Finchcocks, a collection of early keyboard instruments in Kent which has many original square pianos.

Further reading

• Goold, Madeline, Mr. Langshaw's Square Piano, BlueBridge, 280 pages

External links

• Andrew Lancaster Square Pianos
• History of the square piano
• The Square Piano (Virtual Piano Museum)
• Square piano examples and history
• Lucy Coad Square Pianos