Tangent piano

[2] Jean Marius proposed a design for a hammered instrument similar to a tangent piano in 1716, though it was only published after his death in 1735.

The creation of the tangent piano, and the fortepiano, were the results of attempts to remedy the lack of dynamics in harpsichord sound.

In addition, other sons of Johann Sebastian Bach wrote pieces expressly for the tangent piano.

In 2006 a tangent piano was discovered on the estate of Johann Esaias von Seidel in Sulzbach-Rosenberg in its original condition.

It is similar to the tangent of a clavichord only in the sense that they both are driven ultimately by the player's finger to strike the string to initiate sound.

The instrument can have numerous stops to soften and sweeten the sound: una corda, moderator, harp.