Otis Singleton
The evolution of the keyboard has come a long way since its inception in ancient Greece in 300 BCE. The first electric musical instrument was the Denis d'or, built in 1748, with 700 electrified strings. In 1760, the clavecin électrique was introduced, an electrically activated keyboard without sound creation. The first electric piano was invented in 1929, and in 1935, the popular Hammond organ was introduced. The 1970s and 1980s saw the introduction of memory and electronic storage of sound settings in keyboards, with the Yamaha GX-1 and Oberheim's OB-1, respectively. The first computer-controlled keyboard was the Fender Rhodes Chroma, released in 1984.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First electric musical instrument | Denis d'or stringed instrument, built by Václav Prokop Diviš in 1748 |
| First electric keyboard | Clavecin électrique, developed by Jean Baptiste Thillaie de Laborde in 1760 |
| First electric piano | 1929 |
| First computer-controlled keyboard | Fender Rhodes Chroma, developed by Dave Smith's company in 1979 |
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What You'll Learn
The first electric musical instrument: Denis d'or in 1748
The history of musical keyboards dates back to ancient times, with the first keyboard, a type of pipe organ, invented in Ancient Greece around 300 BCE. Over the centuries, technological advancements led to the creation of more sophisticated keyboards, such as the clavichord and harpsichord in the 14th century. The invention of the pianoforte in the 18th century introduced dynamic volume control, and the quest for electrical sound technology paved the way for the emergence of electric keyboards.
Among these early innovations, one instrument stands out: the Denis d'or, also known as the "Golden Dionysus." Crafted in 1748 by Václav Prokop Diviš, a Czech theologian and pioneer of electrical research, the Denis d'or is regarded as the first electric musical instrument. Diviš, with his parish in the Moravian town of Přímětice near Znojmo, had a keen interest in both music and electricity. He applied his knowledge of electricity to various fields, including medicine, agriculture, and even thunderstorm prevention, before turning his attention to creating a unique musical instrument.
The Denis d'or was an early one-off keyboard instrument with a distinctive name that combined the French "Denis," derived from "Dionysus," and "Diviš," its creator's Czech counterpart. This instrument was not just a musical innovation; it was also a technical marvel for its time. It featured a complex mechanism housed within a symmetrical wooden cabinet, complete with a keyboard and a pedal. Its dimensions were approximately 150 cm (4.9 ft) in length, 90 cm (3.0 ft) in width, and 120 cm (3.9 ft) in height.
The Denis d'or's intricate design included an impressive array of 700 to 790 metal strings that could be struck, not plucked, allowing it to imitate a diverse range of other instruments. This capability earned it the description of an "orchestrion." The strings were temporarily electrified, enhancing their sonic qualities and marking a pivotal step toward the integration of electricity in musical instruments. Diviš's invention was so remarkable that it caught the attention of the German theologian Johann Ludwig Fricker, who, after witnessing it in 1753, referred to it as an "electric musical instrument" in a journal.
While the Denis d'or represented a significant milestone in the evolution of musical instruments, its existence was relatively obscure. The earliest written mention of it dates from 1753, and unfortunately, after Diviš's death in 1765, the instrument was sold and eventually lost in Vienna. Despite this loss, the Denis d'or remains a testament to the ingenuity and creativity of its inventor, Václav Prokop Diviš, and a fascinating chapter in the history of musical innovation.
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The clavecin électrique in 1760
The history of the electric keyboard began with the application of electric sound technology. The first electric musical instrument of any type was the Denis d'or, a stringed instrument built by Václav Prokop Diviš in 1748. It featured 700 electrified strings.
In 1760, Jean Baptiste Thillaie de Laborde introduced the clavecin électrique (or clavessin électrique), an electrically activated keyboard without sound creation. It was the earliest surviving electric-powered musical instrument, predated only by the Denis d'or, which is only known from written accounts. The clavecin électrique was played with plectra and activated by electricity, but it did not use electricity to produce sound.
The mechanism of the clavecin électrique was based on a contemporary warning-bell device. Essentially, it was an electric carillon. A number of bells, two for each pitch, hung from iron bars, along with their clappers (one for each pair). When a musician pressed a key, one of the bells of the corresponding pair was grounded and cut off from the charge source. The clapper then oscillated between the grounded and charged bells, producing the desired tone.
Jean-Baptiste Thillaie Delaborde, a French Jesuit priest, described the clavecin électrique in his 1761 publication, 'Le clavessin électrique'.
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The first electric piano in 1929
The first electric piano was invented in 1929. The electric piano is a musical instrument that has a piano-style keyboard, where sound is produced by mechanical hammers striking metal strings, reeds, or wire tines, which cause vibrations that are converted into electrical signals by pickups. These electrical signals are then connected to an instrument amplifier and loudspeaker to reinforce the sound.
The first electric piano was invented in response to the decline in popularity of the piano, with demand down by 92% in 1929 compared to the early 1900s. Piano manufacturers were struggling to stay afloat, and many went out of business. C. Bechstein, a major player in the piano industry, decided to innovate by creating an interesting and unique instrument that would hopefully revitalise the industry. This instrument was the Neo-Bechstein electric grand piano, invented in 1929 or 1931/1932, depending on the source. It was the world's first electromagnetic pickup, long before the guitar industry adopted the technology. The Neo-Bechstein had an amplifier and loudspeaker and could run numerous effects.
Another early electric piano was the Story & Clark Storytone, launched in 1939 and considered the world's first commercially available electric piano. It was developed jointly by the Story & Clark Piano Company and the Radio Corporation of America (RCA-Victor). The Storytone utilised the work of American inventor B.F. Miessner, who, in 1929, was granted a patent for a method of converting sound waves into electrical energy, creating the first electromagnetic pickup.
The popularity of the electric piano began to grow in the late 1950s, reaching its height in the 1970s. However, they were eventually replaced by more lightweight and compact electronic pianos and synthesizers capable of producing piano-like sounds without the disadvantages of electric pianos' heavy weight and moving mechanical parts.
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The first computer-controlled keyboard: Fender Rhodes Chroma in 1979
The evolution of the electric keyboard began with the application of electric sound technology. The first electric musical instrument was the Denis d'or stringed instrument, built by Václav Prokop Diviš in 1748. In 1760, Jean Baptiste Thillaie de Laborde developed the clavecin électrique, an electrically activated keyboard without sound creation. Over the centuries, as technology improved, more sophisticated keyboards were developed.
In 1979, Fender completed the Rhodes Chroma, the first computer-controlled keyboard. This was made possible by the acquisition of ARP engineers when Fender bought the company that year. The Rhodes Chroma used an Electronically Reconfigurable System, allowing the VCOs, VCFs, and VCAs to be reconfigured or "patched" like modular synthesizers, but without the patch cords. Instead, the Chroma digitally stored all the parameters that determined a sound. Users could save sound programs to and load them from cassette tapes. The Chroma was also unique in its economical approach to control panel design, with 71 membrane switches instead of dozens of knobs and mechanical switches.
The Chroma was released in 1981, and an Apple computer could be used to run sequencing software that allowed users to program which notes were being hit at particular moments in the song production. The Chroma Polaris, its successor, was released in 1984, featuring the 'Chroma' port.
The development of the first computer-controlled keyboard was a significant milestone in the evolution of keyboard technology. It paved the way for further advancements, such as the invention of MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) in 1983, which enabled electronic keyboards to communicate with computers and other keyboards.
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The first digital piano in the 1980s
The first electric keyboard was invented in 1748 by Václav Prokop Diviš. His instrument, the Denis d'or, was a stringed instrument with 700 electrified strings. In 1760, Jean Baptiste Thillaie de Laborde developed the clavecin électrique, an electrically activated keyboard without sound creation. The first electric piano was invented in 1929, with the Neo-Bechstein electric grand piano being one of the first. The first truly portable synthesizer keyboard was created in 1941 by Georges Jenny.
In the 1980s, the first digital piano was introduced. Digital pianos are electronic keyboard instruments designed to replicate the feel and sound of an acoustic piano. They use synthesized emulation or recorded samples of an acoustic piano, played through internal loudspeakers. They also incorporate weighted keys to recreate the feel of an acoustic piano.
In 1981, the Fender Rhodes Chroma, the first computer-controlled keyboard, was released. Its successor, the Chroma Polaris, was released in 1984. In 1983, the invention of MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) allowed electronic keyboards to communicate with computers and other keyboards. By the end of the 1980s, digital circuits had managed to cover the role of an acoustic piano, reproducing the tonal characteristics and feel of playing a real piano.
Today, digital pianos have largely supplanted actual electro-mechanical instruments due to their small size, light weight, and versatility. They can produce a wide range of tones and do not need to be tuned. However, some performers still perform and record with vintage electric pianos.
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Frequently asked questions
The first electric keyboard was the Denis d'or stringed instrument, invented by Václav Prokop Diviš in 1748. It had 700 strings temporarily electrified to enhance their sonic qualities.
In 1760, Jean Baptiste Thillaie de Laborde developed the clavecin électrique, a keyboard instrument played with plectra and activated by electricity, but it did not use electricity to produce sound. In 1874, Elisha Gray invented the musical telegraph, an electric musical instrument that made sound from an electromagnetic circuit's vibration.
The first electric piano was invented in 1929.
In 1935, the popular Hammond organ was introduced. In 1955, the Wurlitzer Company released its first electric piano, the Model 100.
