When it comes to piano greats there are really too many to choose from. Today there are many talented artists continuing the proud tradition of great piano work, but who are some of the people that changed piano music for the better? This is by no means comprehensive, but here are a few of the musicians that put their sounds into the medium.
The jazz age was a massive age of development for piano music. Artists began to experiment with metre and dissonant notes in an effort to create a more soulful, vocal form of music. In the early days of pianos arrival on the jazz scene was the legendary Earl 'Fatha' Hines. Hines lead a colourful life and one that saw him become Al Capone's personal 'piano man,' and it was not just his contribution to early jazz, but also his influence of other jazz players that earns him the right to his place amongst the greats.
One of Hines' disciples was Art Tatum. Tatum came from humble origins in the town of Toledo, Ohio - a backwater town with little industry or other prospects. He was severely visually impaired from a young age, but his perfect ear for pitch and incredible mind - a almost photographic memory and intuitive feel for music's nuances - lead him to change the face of music. His contribution to the Bebop age saw his improvisation and seeming disregard for metre, while keeping things tight to the song. It's a technique that would sound terrible in less skilled hands than his.
Beethoven is a more well known name when it comes to influencing piano music and it's wrong to dismiss classical music as something of the past, even if you don't like it. The innovation of Beethoven isn't something that we've moved on from - he still typifies everything that new, inspiring music can be. Powerful, controlled, emotional and above all original.
With piano's early days you'll find the giant of Bach. As an amazing organist he also applied himself to piano with a fervour that produced incredible results. Bach's music feels ahead of its time when you listen to his contemporaries - he too was a piano pioneer.
All in all, it's hard to assess which pianist has had the most influence, or the most talent, that we've ever know, but these great examples are a good start in the appreciation of this art form.
The jazz age was a massive age of development for piano music. Artists began to experiment with metre and dissonant notes in an effort to create a more soulful, vocal form of music. In the early days of pianos arrival on the jazz scene was the legendary Earl 'Fatha' Hines. Hines lead a colourful life and one that saw him become Al Capone's personal 'piano man,' and it was not just his contribution to early jazz, but also his influence of other jazz players that earns him the right to his place amongst the greats.
One of Hines' disciples was Art Tatum. Tatum came from humble origins in the town of Toledo, Ohio - a backwater town with little industry or other prospects. He was severely visually impaired from a young age, but his perfect ear for pitch and incredible mind - a almost photographic memory and intuitive feel for music's nuances - lead him to change the face of music. His contribution to the Bebop age saw his improvisation and seeming disregard for metre, while keeping things tight to the song. It's a technique that would sound terrible in less skilled hands than his.
Beethoven is a more well known name when it comes to influencing piano music and it's wrong to dismiss classical music as something of the past, even if you don't like it. The innovation of Beethoven isn't something that we've moved on from - he still typifies everything that new, inspiring music can be. Powerful, controlled, emotional and above all original.
With piano's early days you'll find the giant of Bach. As an amazing organist he also applied himself to piano with a fervour that produced incredible results. Bach's music feels ahead of its time when you listen to his contemporaries - he too was a piano pioneer.
All in all, it's hard to assess which pianist has had the most influence, or the most talent, that we've ever know, but these great examples are a good start in the appreciation of this art form.