Piano

Mr P   Monday, February 16, 2004, 03:59 GMT
Is the word ''piano'' short for something.
to Mr P   Monday, February 16, 2004, 06:52 GMT
Yes. It's short for "pianoforte".
nicolas   Monday, February 16, 2004, 08:47 GMT
not especially, you can use "piano" in italian as a songle word. Piano means slowly.
Jenny   Monday, February 16, 2004, 18:52 GMT
I thought "piano" ment softly, "forte" ment loudly, etc.
I do not speak Italian, but I did take choir.
A.S.C.M.   Monday, February 16, 2004, 22:11 GMT
I don't know Italian either but I've studied music and I second Jenny.
Jim   Monday, February 16, 2004, 23:55 GMT
Then does "forte" mean "fast"?
Ryan   Tuesday, February 17, 2004, 03:07 GMT
"Pianoforte" is the long name of the instrument with black and white keys we all know. It was named such because it could be played both softly and loudly, something one could not do with past keyed instruments like harpsichords.