‘All daughters were expected to learn the pianoforte - one of the few disciplines, along with sewing, embroidering and housekeeping, that society permitted them to pursue.’
‘Toy musical instruments, including French horns, trumpets, violins, pianofortes, flutes, and drums, numbered 17,622; small horses, horsemen, and soldiers, from drummers to lancers, over 3,000.’
‘He is plagued by his poor relationship with his father who dragged him about Europe as a child performing pieces on cloth covered pianofortes from the age of 5 to his early teens.’
‘It seems she gardens, embroiders, paints, plays the pianoforte and sings.’
‘Quickly standing up, Elizabeth moved towards the pianoforte.’
‘Won't you be a dear and practice the pianoforte for a bit while I show Lord William the lovely new begonias that the butler planted in his spare time?’
‘The room quieted then, as Cordelia stood and took her place beside the pianoforte, ‘Would anyone care to accompany me on the piano as I sing?’’
‘After dinner Marianne is invited to play the pianoforte.’
‘Lotte stood beside the pianoforte, staring at the carpet.’
‘She plays the pianoforte and sings beautifully.’
‘She went to a pianoforte and began to play a few keys.’
‘Artemesia moved to the pianoforte that was along one of the walls, and sat down on the bench, facing away from the instrument and towards Scott.’
‘They chattered politely for a few minutes, and then Will cruelly suggested that Clara entertain them on the pianoforte.’
‘She nodded towards the pianoforte, at Adam and Audrey, and smiled at him.’
‘Anna smiled and walked over to the pianoforte in the corner of the ballroom.’
‘Since their time, the pianoforte has been improved to a high degree of completion.’
‘I no longer ride several times a day, instead I sit and practice my pianoforte and embroider.’
‘There were competition classes for pianoforte, singing, elocution and dancing - tap, character, national and ballet.’
‘The festival includes classes for choirs, vocal solos, duets, groups, pianoforte, strings, woodwind, guitar ensembles, composition, brass and keyboards.’
‘Her interest in teaching and music blossomed and she qualified with a music degree in pianoforte.’
Origin
Mid 18th century from Italian, earlier piano e forte ‘soft and loud’, expressing the gradation in tone.
Are You Learning English? Here Are Our Top English Tips