Bartolomeo Cristofori — the man responsible for the invention of the piano — was born in Padua on this day in 1655. And to celebrate his 360th birthday, Google has made him the focus of today's "Google Doodle."
Today's Doodle contains an animation that demonstrates the hammer mechanism (considered one of Cristofori's most important innovations), which made it possible to produce louder or softer sounds depending upon how the player pressed on the keys.
The Doodle — featuring Cristofori himself at the piano, plunking out Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" — features an interactive slider as well. Slide it toward 'p' (piano) and he performs quietly and calmly. Move the slider toward 'f' (forte), and he performs at a louder dynamic, simultaneously rocking out as he does so.
See Cristofori in action on the Google homepage.
(More info on the pianofortes of Cristofori can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art website.)
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