A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Upright Grand Piano
UPRIGHT GRAND PIANO. A transposition of the ordinary long grand piano to a vertical position, so that it might stand against a wall. The upright piano was derived from the upright harpsichord, and like it, its introduction was nearly contemporaneous with the horizontal instrument. The upright harpsichord (Fr. Clavecin Vertical) is figured in Virdung's 'Musica getutscht,' etc., a.d. 1511, as the Claviciterium,' but, like all Virdung's woodcuts of keyboard instruments, is reversed, the treble being at the wrong end. He does not figure or describe the Arpichordium, but we know that the long horizontal instrument was in use at that time, and constructive features are in favour of its priority. Upright harpsichords are now rarely to be met with. One decorated with paintings was shown in the special Loan Exhibition of ancient Musical Instruments at South Kensington in 1872, contributed by M. Laconi of Paris. Another, in a fine Renaissance outer case, was seen in 1883 at Christie's, on the occasion of the Duke of Hamilton's sale. The museums of the Conservatoire at Brussels, and of Signor Kraus, Florence, contain specimens. There is also an upright grand piano at Brussels, the oldest yet met with. It was made by Frederici of Gera, in Saxony, in 1745. This was the very time when Silbermann was successfully reproducing the Florentine Cristofori's pianofortes at Dresden, which were horizontal grand pianos. [See Pianoforte; Cristofori; and Silbermann.] Frederici, however, made no use of Cristofori's action. Neither did he avail himself of a model of Schroeter's, said to be at that time known in Saxony. M. Victor Mahillon, who discovered the Frederici instrument and transferred it to the Museum he so ably directs, derives the action from the German striking clocks, and with good reasons. Frederici is also credited with the invention of the square piano, an adaptation of the clavichord.
The earliest mention of an upright grand piano in Messrs. Broadwoods' books occurs in 1789, when one 'in a cabinett case' was sold. It was, however, by another maker. The first upright grand piano made and sent out by this firm was to the same customer, in 1799. Some years before, in 1795, William Stodart had patented an upright grand pianoforte with a new mechanism, in the form of a bookcase. He gained a considerable reputation by, and sale for, this instrument. Hawkins's invention in 1800 of the modern upright piano descending to the floor, carried on, modified, and improved by Southwell, Wornum, the Broadwoods and others, in a few years superseded the cumbrous vertical grand piano.[ A. J. H. ]