Pianos
The modern piano was invented circa 1709 by Bartolomeo Cristofori of Padua and Florence, Italy (1655 to 1731). A harpsichord maker, Cristofori replaced the string-plucking mechanism of his harpsichord with hammers, which allowed the player to adjust its volume by applying different degrees of force to the keys. He called his invention, ravicembalo col piano e forte "the harpsichord that plays soft and loud." As the instrument grew more popular, the name was shortened to "soft-loud" and finally to "soft." In Italian, the word for "soft" is "piano." At least two of Cristofori's pianos are known to survive today.