The Pianoforte (Rimbault, Edward Francis)

Part I: The History of the Pianoforte

1. Some of the Stringed Instruments of the Ancients
2. The Medieval Instruments that preceded the Invention of the Key-board
3. The First Invention of the Pianoforte Class
4. The Virginal
5. The Spinet
6. The Harpsichord
7. The Claimants to the Invention of the Pianoforte
8. The Progress of the Pianoforte on the Continent
9. The Introduction and Progress of the Pianoforte in England
10. The Progress of the Pianoforte in the Nineteenth Century

Part II: The Construction of the Pianoforte

1. The Framing
2. The Stringing
3. The Action
4. Various Mechanical Contrivances applied to the Pianoforte in order to obtain sustained Sounds
5. Melographic, Mechanical, and Transposing Pianos
6. Statistics of Pianofortes and Pianoforte Manufacturing as an Article of Trade; Materials used in the Construction of Pianofortes; &c.

Part III: The Early Composers for Instruments of the Pianoforte Class

A Collection of Specimens Illustrating the Progress of Music for Keyed-Stringed Instruments (24 Pieces by various composers)

1. Gloria Tibi Trinitas - arr. Blitheman

   From Thomas Mulliner's Booke for y^e Virginalls, collated with another copy in Lady Neville's Virginal Book ; both MSS. in the possession of the author.

2. Sellenger's Round - arr. William Byrd

   From Queen Elizabeth's Virginal Book in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, collated with another copy in the Earl of Leicester's Virginal Book in the possession of the author.

3. The King's Huntig Jigg - John Bull

   From a MS. volume of Virginal Music, transcribed by Sir John Hawkins, in the possession of the author.

4. Les Buffons - John Bull

   From the same MS.

5. Courante Jewel - John Bull

   From a Dutch MS. of Dr. Bull's compositions, written between 1621 and 1628, formerly in the library of Queen Caroline, Consort of George II.

6. Capriccio del soggetto sopra l'aria di Roggiero - Girolamo Frescobaldi

   From Toccate e partite d'intavolatura di Cembalo. Rome, 1615. Folio.

7. Suite de Pieces, D minor - H. du Mont

   From Meslanges à 2, 3, 4, et 5 Parties, avec la basse-continuée, contenant plusieurs Chansons, Motets, Magnificats, Preludes, Allemandes, &c. Paris, 1657. 4to.

8. Suite de Pieces, A minor - Chambonnières

   From Les Pièces de Clavesin de Monsieur de Chambonnières. Paris, 1670. Oblong 4to.

9. Suite de Pieces, E minor - John Loeillet, misattributed to Jean-Baptiste Lully

   From Lessons for the Harpsichord or Spinnet. Printed by Daniel Wright, next the Tun Tavern, corner of Brook Street, Holborn (1698). Ob. folio.

10. Prelude and Airs, C major - Henry Purcell

    From A Choice Collection of Lessons for the Harpsichord or Spinnet. Printed on Copper Plates for Mrs. Frances Purcell, Executrix of the Author. London, 1696. Small oblong.

11. Variationes super cantilenam - F. X. A. Murschhauser

    From Octi-tonium Novum Organicum, octo Tonis Ecclesiasticis, ad Psalmos, et Magnificat, adhiheri solitis, respondens. Augsburg, 1696. Ob. folio.

12. Sonata, B♭ major - Johann Kuhnau

    From a MS. entitled Histoires tirées de la Bible, avec les explications, en six sonates. 1700.

13. Suite de Pieces, E minor - Johann Mattheson

    From Sonates pour le Clavecin. Hamburg, 1713. Folio.

14. Sonata, A minor, K.54 - Domenico Scarlatti

    From a magnificently written MS. volume of pieces (mostly unpublished) in the possession of the author, entitled Libro de XLIV Sonatas modernas, para Clavicordio. Compuestas per il Senor D. Domingo Scarlatti, Cabaliero del Orden de Santiago, y Maestro de los Reyes Catolicos, D. Fernando el VI, y Dona Maria Barbara.

15. Sonata, G major, K.104 - Domenico Scarlatti

    From the same MS.

16. Suite de Pieces, D minor - François Couperin

    From Pièces de Clavecin. Paris, 1713-19, Folio.

17. Capriccio sopra la lontananza del fratre dilettissimo - J. S. Bach, BWV 992

    From C. F. Becker's Hausmusik in Deutschland in dem 16, 17, und 18. Jahrhunderte. Leipzig, 1840. 4to.

18. Capriccio, G major - Handel

    From a beautiful MS. volume in the hand-writing of Smith ; said to have been written for the Princess Amelia. Many of the pieces (including the one now published for the first time) are unknown.

19. Fantaisie, G major - Gottlieb Muffat

    From Componimenti musicali per il Cembalo. Vienna, 1727. Oblong folio.

20. Air, G major - Gottlieb Muffat

    From the same work.

21. Allemand, C major - Gottlieb Muffat

    From a MS. in the author's library.

22. Introduction and Toccata, G minor - I. J. de Mondonville

    From a contemporary MS. presented to the author by the late J. B. Cramer.

23. Rondo, E♭ major - C. P. E. Bach, Wq.61/1, H.288

    From Clavier Sonaten und Freye Fantasien nebst einigen Rondos fürs Fortepiano, &c. Leipzig, 1787. Oblong folio.

24. Fantasia, C major - C. P. E. Bach, Wq.61/6, H.291

    From the same work.

Appendices

1. Hints to those who have the Care of Pianofortes
2. On Tuning
3. How to regulate Defects in the Mechanism of the Pianoforte
4. A Glossary of the principal Terms used in the Manufacture of the Pianoforte

Additional Notes and Illustrations