The piano is where art, craftsmanship, musicianship, design and technology meet to form one of the most beloved and popular musical instruments of our times. The exhibition Piano 300 at the Smithsonian's International Gallery in Washington D.C. in 2000 and 2001 presented the astonishing 300-year history of this great musical instrument from its beginnings in Florence to the great manufacturers of the last century.
The instruments themselves, and also the composers, performers, makers, teachers, and publishers connected with them, were represented in a highly successful display that attracted over 330,000 visitors in 20 months. Part exhibition catalogue, part technical and social history of the piano, PIANO 300: Celebrating Three Centuries of People and Pianos presents the exhibition's highlights in a lavishly illustrated book that captures the visual excitement of this authoritative survey of one of western culture's most pervasive musical icons.
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