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The piano: Hitting the right keys

Bridget Kendall is joined by scholars Dr Elena Vorotko and Professor Kenneth Hamilton, and the writer Stuart Isacoff to discuss the 300 year-old history of the piano.

What鈥檚 the secret to the 300 year-old success of the piano, an instrument that was hardly a huge hit when it was invented around the turn of the 18th century?

Perhaps it鈥檚 the ability of the instrument to convey a vast range of styles from singing melodies to percussive rhythms, and from classical music to jazz, rock and pop. With the help of musical examples, Bridget Kendall and guests will explore how the piano has inspired music from composers on every continent.

Joining Bridget will be the historic keyboard specialist Dr Elena Vorotko from the Royal Academy of Music in London, pianist and author Professor Kenneth Hamilton from the University of Cardiff, and the writer Stuart Isacoff in New York.

Photo: Piano keys (Getty Images)

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41 minutes

Last on

Tue 5 Jun 2018 23:06GMT

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Broadcasts

  • Sat 2 Jun 2018 19:06GMT
  • Tue 5 Jun 2018 08:06GMT
  • Tue 5 Jun 2018 17:06GMT
  • Tue 5 Jun 2018 23:06GMT

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