Quirky Facts About Instruments That You Didn’t Know

Western musical instruments, iconic in classical and contemporary music, have intriguing histories that add depth to their familiar sounds. The piano, for instance, is a feat of engineering with over 12,000 parts, and it uniquely straddles the categories of both string and percussion instruments. Despite weighing up to 1,200 pounds, its intricate design allows for subtle expressiveness—each of its 88 keys can produce a range of dynamics, from the softest whisper to the loudest roar. Interestingly, the piano has a direct link to the industrial revolution: its iron frame, which supports the tension of the strings, was made possible by advancements in metalworking.

The violin, a cornerstone of the string family, carries the legend of the Stradivarius. These violins, crafted by Antonio Stradivari in the 1700s, are renowned for their unmatched sound quality, often attributed to the dense, slow-grown spruce and maple wood used, as well as the secretive varnish. The “Messiah” Stradivarius, made in 1716, remains in pristine condition, having been played sparingly over the centuries, and is now valued at over $20 million. This violin’s enduring allure lies not only in its sound but in the mystery of Stradivari’s craftsmanship, which modern science has yet to fully decode.

The trumpet, with its bold, brassy sound, has roots as a signalling device in ancient civilizations, from Egypt to Rome. By the Baroque era, the trumpet had evolved into a musical instrument, though early versions lacked valves, limiting their melodic range. It wasn’t until the early 19th century that the modern trumpet, with its three-valve system, was developed, allowing musicians to play all twelve notes of the chromatic scale. An amusing fact: one of the oldest surviving trumpets, discovered in King Tutankhamun’s tomb, was played in a BBC broadcast in 1939, only for the instrument to crack during the performance, a poignant reminder of its 3,000-year history.