The Piano Instrument

The outer Case contains the sounding-board, the strings and frame and the mechanism or "action".

1. Description of the Sounding-board.
2. The Strings and Frame.
3. Description of the components of the Mechanism

1. Firstly: A compound Lever, to facilitate the transmission of speed to the string its resemblance to a see-saw, since all speed transmission- power vanishes with the key's full depression
2. Secondly: The Escapement, to allow the hammer to fall away from the string the moment that tone-production is completed. The Repetition contrivance
3. Thirdly: The Check, to prevent rebound of the hammer
4. Fourthly: The Damper, to stop the sound when the key is released
5. Fifthly: The Damper-Pedal, which raises all the dampers simultaneously Correct Pedalling The Sostenente pedal Sixthly : The Una Corda pedal and its substitutes. Recapitulation .

The strong outer CASE of the Pianoforte serves but as a support and protection for the instrument-proper. This consists of a) the Sounding board, b), the strings, with a frame to keep them at tension; hereto is added, c) the mechanism, consisting of a series of little machines, complete for each note, by means of which our finger-tip is enabled to communicate motion to the strings.
We will glance at these points for a moment in further detail.

This forms the most vital portion of the instrument. It is analogous to the whole body of the instrument, in the violin family. It is a carefully constructed, large, thin, resonant sheet of wood, somewhat bulging in the centre, and of almost tie same dimensions as the case itself in a horizontal Grand, with the exception of a portion that has to be omitted, to allow the hammers to reach the strings.

In the grand symphony of musical instruments, the piano and the violin emerge as distinguished soloists, each with its unique timbre and expressive capabilities. Yet, beneath their individual melodies lies a harmonious analogy between the piano's sounding board and the entire body of the violin, both serving as the very soul of their respective instruments, resonating chambers where vibrations are transformed into the rich tapestries of sound that enchant the listener. The sounding board of the piano, a large, delicately crafted piece of wood, acts much like the canvas for a painter, capturing and amplifying the myriad tones produced by the hammers striking the strings. It is here that the raw energy of the piano's strings is converted into a more refined, sonorous voice, allowing the instrument to sing with a volume and richness that belies its mechanical nature. This wooden expanse, meticulously designed to respond to the subtlest of vibrations, serves as the heart through which the piano's voice is projected, filling concert halls with its commanding presence.
In a similar vein, the whole body of the violin, with its elegantly curved shape and hollow interior, functions as a vital resonator for the strings' vibrations. Each component, from the spruce top to the maple back and sides, is integral to the instrument's ability to produce sound. The violin's body, much like a cathedral's dome, captures and amplifies the vibrations of the strings, allowing them to swell into a full, vibrant sound. The wood, aged and seasoned, acts as a conduit for the emotional expression of the musician, turning simple bow strokes into a language of profound depth and beauty.
In this metaphorical ensemble, the piano's sounding board and the violin's body are akin to the lungs of a great singer, drawing in the breath of life and releasing it as a powerful voice that transcends the silence. They remind us that in the world of music, the physical and the ethereal dance in close embrace, transforming wood, string, and air into the sublime language of emotion and beauty. Thus, the sounding board and the violin's body stand as testaments to the art of instrument making, where craftsmanship and science converge to create instruments that speak directly to the human soul.