Square Piano 1767

Johannes Zumpe's "Square Piano" (1767), now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a significant example of the early square piano, a revolutionary instrument that marked a transition from the harpsichord. This compact, portable piano, with its distinctive square shape and wooden stand, features a keyboard of 58 keys, echoing the shift in the 18th century towards a more expressive musical experience. The instrument is a testament to the ingenuity of the German-born maker Zumpe, a key figure in the development of the pianoforte.