Joy, Thou Star from Heaven Appearing

Words from

Melody from

SCHILLER'S "Ode to Freedom BEETHOVEN'S "Ninth Symphony "

XII.

THE STORY OF THE PIANOFORTE

(1. The Clavichord and the Virginal)

In the story of Stradivarius we have seen how the violin was made as nearly perfect as possible. But have you ever wondered how the piano came to be the fine instrument that we have today? Its history covers a much longer period of years than the history of the violin, because it is not so simple an instrument as the violin.

You remember that the organ was in use long ago, in the time of the Romans. We may call the organ the mother of the pianoforte. For many centuries the organ was the only instrument that had keys.

It was used in large churches, but small organs were also invented for use in private houses. These little organs were not very convenient, however, because the player always needed an assistant to pump the air into the pipes.

In the sixteenth century the clavichord came into use. It was an instrument somewhat like a zither, but it was played by means of keys. It was much more convenient than the organ, because no assistant was needed. Sometimes it was made without legs, and then it was just an oblong box that you could carry under your arm.

Monks and nuns liked to cells. It made such a faint

be heard a few feet away.

play the clavichord in their little sound that it could not Musicians liked to practice

upon it. Dear old Sebastian Bach loved his clavichord and used to play on it even after pianos had been invented. It was an instrument of this sort that a kind friend gave to Handel when he was a little boy. Probably it was box-shaped and had no legs, for Handel's friend succeeded in carrying it into the house without anyone noticing it. It was set on a table in the attic and little Handel used to play on it in secret.

When Papa Haydn was an old man, he visited St. Stephen's Church in Vienna and talked to the singingboys there. He said: "I was once a singing-boy. I was industrious; when my companions were at play, I used to take my little clavier under my arm and go off to practice."

Can you imagine yourself taking your piano under your arm and carrying it into another room? You see how very different the clavichord must have been from our modern piano.

The virginal and spinet were instruments resembling the clavichord. They had different shapes; the virginal was oblong, like the clavichord, while the spinet was usually triangular. These instruments made a low, tinkling sound.

In 1583, long before the days of Bach and Handel and Haydn, Sir James Melvil was sent by Mary Queen of Scots as ambassador to England. The great Elizabeth was then Queen of England.

One day an English nobleman said to Sir James:

"Would you like to hear her majesty play on the virginal?"

Of course Sir James was eager to hear Queen Elizabeth play. But the English lord warned him that the Queen did not like anyone to listen while she played. They must not let her know that they were near.

The two gentlemen tiptoed into a quiet corridor and stood near a curtained doorway. From the room inside. came the soft tinkle, tinkle of the virginal. Sir James was curious to see the Queen playing. He forgot his friend's warning. Very softly he lifted the tapestry that hung over the doorway, and stepped into the room.

Queen Elizabeth was alone. She made a pretty picture as she sat at her virginal. Her beautiful dress, stiff with embroidery, was spread out around her like a big billow. The virginal was a very handsome one. The outside of its case was covered with red velvet, and the inside was richly decorated.

Sir James stood with bent head, listening to the music. Suddenly the Queen glanced around and saw him. She sprang to her feet.

"You should not have come in, sir," she said. “I am not used to play before people, but only when I am alone, to shun melancholy."

Sir James dropped on one knee, according to the custom of the times. He excused himself for listening by saying that he had not been able to resist the Queen's enchanting music. This pleased Queen Elizabeth. She asked Sir