The piano was invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655-1731) of Italy. Cristofori was unsatisfied by the lack of control that musicians had over the volume level of the harpsichord. He is credited for switching out the plucking mechanism with a hammer to create the modern piano in around the year 1700.
Here are two playlists for the ease of your listening enjoyment:
LEEDS piano performance contest (past winners – 14 videos): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqptie5CKN1hiU87Jr-7OkV8nqKnatz3Q
World’s best pianists and keyboarder players (14 videos): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqptie5CKN1ghTObwDrxDGFqEW2GsqoLU
57 Piano players featured in blog:
Photo credit: The Flying Inkpot
Alexeev, Dmitri (Russia). “Schumann Sonata No1” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/GO1ngWJqZAU) (RQ 8).
Photo credit: News from MediaBlog
Aye, Naomi (11 yrs old). From Cuba. “Bohemian Rhapsody” Post 37 (https://youtu.be/7KG5UQyx1dk) (RQ 7).
Photo credit: Times Record News
Bax, Alessio (Italy). “Rachmaninoff Prelude in C Sharp” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/mluBSB1oUCA) (RQ 9).
Photo credit: Mexicana
Castro, Ricardo. A Mexican concert pianist and composer, considered the last romantic of the time. “Cello concert in C minor” (https://youtu.be/hfZQG6EW94s).
Photo credit: Stuff of Genius
Christofori, Bartolomeo. Inventor of the “1st Piano 1700: Forte” Post 45. https://youtu.be/O2L5ZKIu4F4.
Photo credit: Bach Cantatas
Colli, Federico (Italy). “Scarlatti 4 Sonatas” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/UX8xBU-aPbQ) (RQ 8).
Photo credit: Label Aparte
Dalberto, Michael (France). “Faure: Nocturne No6” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/2JWoJCv9WvU) (RQ 8).
Photo credit: Carl Palmer
Emerson, Keith (Band: Lake & Palmer). “Fanfare of the Common Man” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/c2zurZig4L8) (RQ 7).
Photo credit: Deezer
Gatcin, Elena (25 yrs old). She is from Mexico. “At Last” Post 37 (https://youtu.be/r4GaOZkO8lc) (RQ7).
Photo credit: legacy.com
Gould, Donald (was homeless). “Walk on Water” Post 50 (https://youtu.be/-aMJS6uNsX4) (RQ 7).
Photo credit: Andermatt Music
Grimaud, Helene. A French classical pianist and the founder of the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, New York. “Brahams Concerto” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/306f3rWN10g) (RQ 8).
Photo credit: SOU Events
Gulyak, Sofya (Russia). “La Valse” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/3O_R2EBs1_g) (RQ 9).
Photo credit: Boyer College
Han, Anna. From Mesa, AZ. “Bach French No2” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/QYIN6BqAE-g) (RQ 7).
Photo credit: Armenian National Music
Haimasyn, Tigran. (From Armenia). A jazz pianist.“Nairian Odyssey” (https://youtu.be/TuqmKqauw8g).
Photo credit: The Guardian
Hancock, Herbie. Jazz icon. “Just Around the Corner” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/RXHTBTXGf44) (RQ 10).
Photo credit: Get classical
Hobson, Ian (from the UK). “Prokofiev Sonata” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/2hB1lQMau7Q) (RQ 8).
Photo credit: Key Biscayne Piano Festival
Itin, Lllya (Russia). “Chopin Nocturne Op27” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/poBzZwmUBlU) (RQ 7).
Photo credit: Wikidata
Iverson, Ethan. “Carolina Shout” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/eM09yob0RFM) (RQ 8).
Photo credit: iHeart
Joel, Billy. “Piano Man” Post 56 (https://youtu.be/gxEPV4kolz0) (RQ 10).
Photo credit: people.com
John, Elton. “Rocket Man” Post 56 (https://youtu.be/DtVBCG6ThDk) (RQ 10).
Photo credit: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Johnson, Johnny. “Johnny’s Boogie” Post 19 (https://youtu.be/-1Dcc9DCJ0I) (RQ 9).
Photo credit: Interlude.hk
Kim, Sunwook (S. Korea). “Piano Concerto No1” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/x7IMUR4JeB8) (RQ 8).
Photo credit: Classic FM
Lang, Lang (from China). “Fur Elise” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/s71I_EWJk7I) (RQ 9).
Photo credit: The Clyburn
Liu, Kate. From Chicago. “Beethoven’s Sonata No31” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/30QpoqPRQH8) (RQ 7).
Photo credit: last.fm
Lord, Jon (band: Deep Purple) (from the UK). “Lazy” Post 45. (https://youtu.be/ANSUu5GwWOY) (RQ 8).
Photo credit: Louis Lortie.com
Lortie, Louis (from Canada). “Piano Sonata No17” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/4gMBXfRs43M) (RQ 9).
Photo credit: piano texas
Lu, Eric. “Preludes Op28” from Bedford, MA. Post 45 (https://youtu.be/-SyzafJTid8) (RQ 8).
Photo credit: Shazam
Lupu, Radu (from Romania). “Live in Bologna” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/BatjiA6VPWI) (RQ 7).
Photo credit: bandsintown
Lyra, Carlos. “Primavera” Post 48 (https://youtu.be/VnyTG_Pp3S4) (RQ 8).
Photo credit: The Movie Store
MacKenzie, Gisele. “Hard to Get” (piano & vocal) Post 36 (https://youtu.be/dJa7PWoiAqM) (RQ 6).
Photo credit: famous birthdays
Marina, Ashley (11 yrs old) “You’ll Always Be My Hero” (original) Post 37 (https://youtu.be/KdWy8EvYBLA) (RQ 10).
Photo credit: YouTube screenshot
Mason, Michael. Piano Covers (Aretha Franklin “Ain’t No Way”) Post 56 (https://youtu.be/H6hu183iwiA) (RQ 8).
Photo credit: JazzTimes
Mehldau, Brad. “Concertgebouw Sessions” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/5NTmoL_vogQ) (RQ 8).
Photo credit: cancan
Meola, Martina (8 yrs old). From Chisinau, Moldova. Admitted into the Milan Conservatory! Bach – concerto in F minor. https://youtu.be/1WC5hc85j0Y.
Photo credit: GoldDerby
Miles, Allegra (16 yrs old). From St. John’s, Virgin Islands. “Use Somebody” (keyboard) 37 (https://youtu.be/DFuopE6XhM8) (RQ 8).
Photo credit: Infobae
Orozco, Rafael (Spain). “Chopin Etuds No1” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/TbKRRTHwM6M) ( RQ 6).
Photo credit: vulture
Monk, Thelonious. “Monk’s Dream” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/icFRHJ9VZaw) (RQ 9).
Photo credit: Foghat
Pace, Ian (from the UK). “Maxim Rejection” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/pTR-kaQFmFg) (RQ 7).
Photo credit: gramophone
Perahia, Murray. From New York City. “Beethoven Moonlight Sonata” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/9kEB-0mu_ew) (RQ 6).
Photo credit: New York Times
Peterson, Oscar. From Montreal, Canada. “If You Could See Me Now” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/tcCwKuJCm68) (RQ 9).
Photo credit: AACMM
Pizarro, Artur (from Portugal). “Rachmaninoff Prelude Op23” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/aIPFpiFADZ8) (RQ 8).
Photo credit: The Guardian
Roll, Michael (from the UK). “Stravinsky Concerto” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/aDEv28dnt7Q) (RQ 8).
Photo credit: Songkick
Rudess, Jordan. From Great Neck, NY. Band: Dream Theatre. “Miami Vice Theme” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/aJpIQ3dituE) (RQ 6).
Photo credit: Turner Classic Movies
Russell, Leon. Sixty year career. Numerous best-selling records.“Tight Rope” Post 56 (https://youtu.be/d2Z9qN8R9Bg) (RQ 10).
Photo credit: twitter
Sgouros, Dimitris (from Greece). “Liszt-Etudes” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/9XqzDwuDaiQ) (RQ 7).
Photo credit: Allegro Viva
Siirala, Antti (from Finland). “Godowsky: Passacagua” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/f0nlJXooIVc) (RQ 7).
Photo credit: toppermost
Smith, Huey. From New Orleans. “Rockin Pneumonia” Post 15 (https://youtu.be/KKjhLq4NXIE) (RQ 8).
Photo credit: InsideNoVa
Strong, Barrett. “Money (1959)” Post 56 (https://youtu.be/bNND0AvhnyQ) (RQ 8),
Photo credit: Baby Names Pedia
Tatum, Art. “Best of” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/IZERfh28Od0) (RQ 9).
Photo credit: discogs
Tierney, Harry. “Austin Black Canary Rag (1911)” Post 56 (https://youtu.be/zbPr0qoxdRI) (RQ 9).
Photo credit: SF Jazz Center
Toussaint, Allen. “Southern Nights” Post 56 (https://youtu.be/oGAFOz5GA8I) (RQ 9).
Photo credit: Past Daily
Tsybeleva, Anna (from the Ukraine). “Beethoven Sonata No3” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/SpJpzqBxt48) (RQ 9).
Photo credit: daily mail
Wakeman, Rick (Yes Band). “Unnamed Solo” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/05k8DgEXZXM) (RQ 8).
Photo credit: Second Hand Songs
Wenrich, Percy. “Peaches and Cream (1905)” Post 56 (https://youtu.be/ohbuD2Aid9g) (RQ 8).
Photo credit: The Washington Informer
Whitaker, Matthew (blind) from Hackensack, NJ. Live Session Jazz FM 45 (https://youtu.be/Ir6zixUUo7g) (RQ 8).
Photo credit: Roger Williams Music
Williams, Roger. “Autumn Leaves” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/88Js16yeHl4) (RQ 10+).
Photo credit: Los Angeles Times
Wong, Yuja (China). “Shubert-Liszt” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/6Ypx9fH-OHk) (RQ 8).
Photo credit: WNYC
Worrell, Bernie. “Moog Sub Phatty” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/tK_tRgnCIWo) (RQ 6).
Photo credit: Floydian Slip
Wright, Richard (Band: Pink Floyd). From Hatch End, UK. “Fat Old Son” Post 45 (https://youtu.be/xOx03KOi4W4) (RQ 8).
All-Time Greatest Music 