Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Any of various precursors to the modern piano.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A keyboard instrument; the smaller, quieter, precursor to the pianoforte.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Italian, variant of pianoforte; see pianoforte.]

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Examples

  • In the living room, men and women of middle age nibbled at nuts and flatbreads around a fortepiano.

    The Velvet Reformation 2009

  • Willis, playing a David Sutherland copy of a 1730s Florentine fortepiano, brought a string quartet to the stage with him for three of Bach's keyboard concertos.

    Archive 2009-06-01 Matthew Guerrieri 2009

  • Willis, playing a David Sutherland copy of a 1730s Florentine fortepiano, brought a string quartet to the stage with him for three of Bach's keyboard concertos.

    Authentication keys Matthew Guerrieri 2009

  • In the living room, men and women of middle age nibbled at nuts and flatbreads around a fortepiano.

    The Velvet Reformation 2009

  • But the new series started off strong, with fortepiano contributions from Andrew Willis and BEMF favorite Kristian Bezuidenhout.

    Archive 2009-06-01 Matthew Guerrieri 2009

  • The fortepiano timbre didn't reveal any new secrets in the solo portions — Bach's writing is still very much modeled on harpsichord/clavichord virtuosity — but when providing a rippling accompaniment to the whole ensemble, the softer, subtler touch made for an invitingly plush sound.

    Archive 2009-06-01 Matthew Guerrieri 2009

  • The fortepiano timbre didn't reveal any new secrets in the solo portions — Bach's writing is still very much modeled on harpsichord/clavichord virtuosity — but when providing a rippling accompaniment to the whole ensemble, the softer, subtler touch made for an invitingly plush sound.

    Authentication keys Matthew Guerrieri 2009

  • But the new series started off strong, with fortepiano contributions from Andrew Willis and BEMF favorite Kristian Bezuidenhout.

    Authentication keys Matthew Guerrieri 2009

  • In the living room, men and women of middle age nibbled at nuts and flatbreads around a fortepiano.

    The Velvet Reformation 2009

  • The wiry, plangent sound of Kurosaki's 1801 violin is perfectly complemented by the percussive but singing tone of Linda Nicholson's Viennese fortepiano, especially effective in the powerful C minor Sonata Op 30 No 2.

    Beethoven: violin sonatas vol 4, op 30 nos 1 - 3; violin sonatas 'Kreutzer' op 47, no 10 op 96 2010

Comments

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  • To the best of my knowledge, the fortepiano followed the harpischord and preceded the pianoforte. Thomas Jefferson purchased a fortepiano for his wife Martha in 1773, and reading the story was the first time I heard of the instrument.

    April 2, 2009