PIANOFORTE
SQUARE

Table-like (rectangular): English: square pianoforte; Italian: fortepiano a tavola; German: Tafelklavier; French: piano carré.

The name stuck to the instrument due to external similarity with the table. The strings, keyboard and mechanics of the table-like piano are arranged in a horizontal plane. Its body has a rectangular shape, sometimes with rounded corners (cat. 104, 114, 117). The body is mounted on the base or on the legs. If not used as intended, the piano served, for an instance, as a table to place a vase with flowers... In appearance, the instrument is almost indistinguishable from the clavichord. This, in turn, was the cause of confusion in literature and everyday life, since the table-like is called the clavichord everywhere. The German maker H. E. Frederici (1712-1779) was one of the first to begin making pianofortes of that design, around 1758.

In a number of instances, the sources contain express references to the existence of table-shaped pianos in Saint Petersburg: “On the V. O. ... for sale ... table piano ...” (“Vedomosti”. January 16, 1806, No.5). Among 21 references we have revealed in different contexts, the terms “quadrangle piano” (1804, 1805), “table-like pianoforte” (1809, 1810, 1812, 1822, 1827), “Tafel piano” (1814), “square piano” (1817, 1818) should be mentioned. These table-shaped instruments were the most common because of their compactness and affordability.

Paradoxically, information about such pianofortes was not included in either the “Zeitung” or the “Vedomosti” for the 18th century (we do not know of these). However, this does not mean that there was no table-like piano in the city. The below vivid example may serve as a proof.

«Es ist, in der Nacht zwischen 29. und 30sten November aus dem Hause Constantin Sacharitsch Sotow… ein englisches Piano-Forte, diebischer Weise entwandt worden. Der Kasten desselben ist von rothem, das Gestell aber von Eichen Holze mit rundgedrechselten daran befestigten Füßen. Es hat zur Aufschrift: Schoene and Comp.: Successor to Joh. Zumpe, Londoni fecerunt. Wer von diesem Piano-Forte… Nachricht geben kann, erhält eine Erkentlichkeit von 25 Rbl.» («Zeitung». 30 декабря 1796 г. № 105; 2, 6 января 1797 г. № 1, 2); In the night from 29 to 30 days of the last December [should be “November”] the English Piano-Forte made of reddish box, with the bottom made of oak wood, with round legs, and with the following inscription: Schoene and Comp. Successor to Iog. Zumpe, Londini fecerunt was taken out from the home of Zakhar Konstantinovich Zotov… The one who provides… reliable information about this Pianoforte 25 rubles is promised as a reward...” (Vedomosti. 6, January 9, 1797 Nos.2, 3).

From the announcement it is apparent that the piano was light and small in size (could a thief cope with a 2-meter wing-like edifice!) It is also indicated that the case was box-shaped and fit on the stand (support) (Gestell). Finally, the stamp of the instrument is cited, indicating that it was made in London by some “Schöne”, the successors of Zumpe. It is known for a fact about the famous I. Zumpe and his successors (brothers Schöne) that they manufactured table-like pianofortes. The instruments made at their factory ranked highly and were shipped to the continent by lots.

Obviously small table-shaped pianofortes were also made. They were intended for use at picnics, as well as for ladies, and for teaching children the basics of performing technique for playing keyed instruments. In this regard, the sources have at least 43 contexts that contain unknown facts from the Petersburg history of the existence of such a piano.

For the first time, information about the “travel” pianoforte appeared in the “Zeitung” no later than December 10, 1784: “In der 7ten Linie… sind… ein kleines Forte-Piano mit Flöten, das nur 3 Fuß lang ist, und ganz bequem in einen Wagen mitgeführet werden kann…”; “On the Vasilyevsky Island in the 7th line… for sale ...a pianoforte with flutes, only 3 feet long [3 feet = about 90 cm], so that it is convenient to take along to a carriage.” (Zeitung. 10, December 13, 17, 1784 No. 99-101; Vedomosti. December 13, 20).

Later, some sources mentioned similar instruments in 1785, 1796, 1798, 1799 (“Folding small travel pianofortes”), 1805, 1811 (“Lady's little piano of 8 (sic!) octaves”), 1813, 1816, 1818, 1819 (“A small English piano, very advantageous for traveling and for beginners to learn to play ”), 1820–1824, 1825 (“for basic training children, a small English piano of 4 ½ octaves, 1 archeen, 6 vershoks [98.2 cm]in length, and 9 vershoks [40.5 cm] in width), 1827

By the 3rd quarter of the 19th century, the evolution of the table-like pianoforte – the “pianoforte table” – led to the emergence of enormous, heavy table instruments (cat. 114-117), with the resources, which could compete with other grand pianos. In Russia, Saint Petersburg and foreign countries they played music until the beginning of the 20th century. The early designs of the table-shaped piano have become a thing of the past.