Fun Fact #1: This instrument was first called a pianoforte because it could play softly (piano) and loudly (forte).
Fun Fact #2: Pianos have 88 black and white keys.
Fun Fact#3: The longest piano concert ever was by Romauld Koperski in Poland. It lasted 103 hours and 8 seconds.
Name of piece: Toccata and Fugue in D minor
Composer (person who wrote the piece) J.S. Bach
Performance: Hans-André Stamm in Waltershausen, Germany
Fun Fact #1: Organs have several keyboards for their hands, and even one for their feet!
Fun Fact #2: Organs have different buttons to change the sound that comes out of the different sized pipes. Short pipes make high sounds. Long pipes make low sounds.
Fun Fact#3: When I was a kid, we played this song in my house on Halloween night when trick or treaters came. Do you think it sounds scary?
Let's Listen: First the Toccata, then the Fugue
Do you ever go see the light show at Macy's in Philadelphia in December? If you do, then you get to hear the LARGEST working organ in the world!
The name of the building where the Macy's is located, is called the John Wanamaker Building. That is where the organ gets its name.
It has 6 keyboards, 28,750 pipes and is 7 stories high!
The current organist is Peter Richard Conte.
You can hear this organ being played throughout the year, any day except Sunday at noon.
This organ is truly one of the treasures of our area! We are so lucky!
Has a black and white keyboard
Has little hammers that play metal bars
Uses a pedal to sustain the sound
Used to play Hedwig's theme in Harry Potter.
Named after the french word for heaven.
Can have mostly white or mostly black keys. This one is opposite of a piano.
When keys are played, the string inside is plucked.
Sometimes can use pedals to change the sound
Is often played with 3 or 4 sting instruments.
Is plucked like a harp.
Just like the harpsichord- it can have mostly white or black keys.
When keys are played, small metal blades strike metal strings. Can you hear the metal sound it makes?
It is usually very small. Most of the time, it is only a little bit bigger than your desk at school.
It is VERY quiet.
Before electronic instruments were invented, composers liked to use this instrument to help them write music. It was a good fit for two reasons because it was quiet and small.
Has a keyboard that you strike
The keyboard is attached to different sized bells
Uses foot pedals to play like an organ
Plays loudly and softly based on how hard you strike the key
Is usually played inside of a tower.
Can be heard indoors and outdoors throughout the town
Is just 6 miles from Jenkintown
Has summertime outdoor concerts
Has 48 different sized bells
The smallest bell weighs 24 pounds.
The largest bell weighs 3,300 pounds and is called the Bourdon.
The Piano Guys
String Family, Keyboard Family, Percussion Family..... YES!
Can you identify how the piano can make all three types of sound?