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).
“In the Mood”
https://www.facebook.com/reel/3612115872398546?fs=e&s=aEkTS0&mibextid=z9DgKg
Photo credit: Facebook
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).
Nicolasspielt is a German pianist and organist known for his viral piano and church organ covers of nostalgic, pop, and theme songs on social media.
- Who he is: A musician based in Munich, Germany, who plays piano and organ.
- What he does: He creates popular videos performing recognizable tunes—ranging from TV show themes like Die Sendung mit der Maus and Simsalagrim to unexpected pop and rap covers on church organs—often amazing audiences with his absolute pitch. As you can see from the picture above, he is proficient even when playing on two pianos at once! (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdUMCpVTzvq/?cplk=aHozOW40eXNiajRw)
- Where to find him: You can watch his performances on his Nicolasspielt Instagram and Nicolasspielt TikTok profiles.
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).
