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ninemsn Encarta - Piano |
 | | Piano (in full, pianoforte), stringed instrument, with a keyboard derived from the harpsichord and clavichord, and hammers and strings derived from the dulcimer. |
 | | The compass of the early piano was, like that of the harpsichord, only four, or at most, five octaves, but it has gradually increased to a compass of more than seven octaves as structural changes allowed for increases in tension amounting to several tonnes. |
 | | Grand pianos are built in various sizes, from the full concert grand, 2.69 m (8 ft 10 in) long, to the baby grand, less than 1.8 m (6 ft) long. |
| au.encarta.msn.com /encyclopedia_761553075/Piano.html (1398 words) |
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