You know those little pics up in the top, left-hand corner of the Google screen? Today’s—May 4, 2015—celebrates the birthday of Bartolomeo Cristofori, born 360 years ago today on May 4, 1655, credited with the invention of the piano! The pianoforte, the piano’s full name, is so called because piano (Italian) means “soft” and forte means “loud”—Bartolomeo was able to create a hammer mechanism that allowed for dynamics, that is, piano and forte.

http://www.google.com/doodles/bartolomeo-cristoforis-360th-birthday?hl=en

Definitely check it out, and most cool, be sure and slide the volume button up and down! (Created by Doodler Leon Hong)

Here’s a pic of ole Barty:

And one of his pianos:

Learn more about him here at Wikipedia.

And while we’re on the subject of piano makers (I know some of my students are working on this composer’s pieces right now), check out Muzio Clementi, a lesser-known composer and pianist, who also manufactured pianos. Poor Muzio, Mozart wasn’t crazy about his music, but loved how he used legato thirds in pieces.