Bartolomeo Cristofori
(May 4, 1655 January 27, 1731) was an
Italian maker of musical instruments,
generally regarded as the inventor of the
piano.
A 1720 instrument is located in
theMetropolitan Museumin
New York. This instrument has
been extensively altered by
later builders: the soundboard
was replaced in 1938, and the
54-note range was shifted by
about half an octave, from F',
G', A'c''' to Cf''. Although this
piano is playable, according to
builder Denzil Wraight "its
original condition ... has been
irretrievably lost," and it can
provide no indication of what it
sounded like when new.[10]
A 1722 instrument is in
the Museo Nazionale
degli Strumenti
Musicali inRome. It has
a range of four octaves
(C-c) and includes an
"una corda" stop; see
below. This piano has
been damaged by
worms and is not
playable
A 1726 instrument is in the
Musikinstrumenten-Museum
ofLeipzig University. Four
octaves (C-c) with "una
corda" stop. This instrument
is not currently playable,
though in the past recordings
were made.
The Origins of the Yamaha Brand
The Yamaha brand trademark, YAMAHA, comes from the name of our founder Torakusu
Yamaha who pioneered the production of Western musical instruments in Japan. Born to
a family of a Kishu Tokugawa (today's Wakayama Prefecture) clansman, Torakusu was
captivated by Western science and technology from early on. Fascinated by the watches
that were gaining popularity in Osaka at the time, he took up watchmaking, studying
business along the way. Over time, Torakusu began repairing medical equipment and
was invited to visit a hospital in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture.
On one occasion, the principal of Hamamatsu's Jinjo elementary school (currently
Motoshiro Elementary school) asked him if he would try to repair a reed organ. He
agreed and was able to repair it successfully, marking the first step toward the birth of
the Yamaha brand. Recognizing its business potential, while repairing the organ,
Torakusu created a blueprint for the inside of the organ, later creating his own prototype
organ. To deliver it to the then Music Institute (today's Tokyo National University of Fine
Arts and Music), Torakusu slung his creation over his shoulder on a carrying pole and
crossed the mountains of Hakone. This historic trek was later immortalized as a basrelief.
The organ, however, was criticized harshly for its poor tuning. Undaunted, and starting
from zero, Torakusu began studying music theory and tuning. After four months of
seemingly endless struggles from early morning to late at night, he was finally able to
complete the organ. It is easy to see how he came up with the concept of the tuning fork
mark, inspired by the difficult experience of studying tuning while holding a tuning fork in
his hand.
History of the Tuning Fork Mark
In 1898, one year after the establishment of Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd., forerunner to today's Yamaha Corporation, the company decided to use a tuning fork
as its corporate mark, with "a design featuring a hoo (Chinese phoenix) holding a tuning fork in its mouth" as the trademark. Since then, after
undergoing a variety of changes that paralleled the growth of the company, the tuning fork mark was finally unified in 1967.
Changes in the tuning fork mark
1898
This is the design with a hoo (Chinese phoenix) holding a tuning fork in its mouth, which was established
as the trademark in 1898,
one year after Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. was established.
The mark was known for being used on top quality organs, which illustrates how the Founder always aimed to
create world-class products.
1927
A trademark application was submitted for this tuning fork and Yamaha Veneer mark.
1934
A design widely used in newspaper advertising and catalogs.
1937
A trademark application was submitted for this tuning fork used on organs.
A trademark application was submitted for this tuning fork used on pianos.
A trademark application for tuning forks alone.
1956
1959
A trademark application was submitted to be used on musical instruments.
A trademark application was submitted to be used on musical instruments.
1998
The current standard and special versions of the tuning fork marks were established.
What is a tuning fork?
A tuning fork is a tool for tuning musical instruments. It was invented by a trumpet player named John Shore (1662-1751). The tuning fork is composed of a handle attached
to the center of a U-shaped steel rod. By striking the rod, sound is created, and the frequency of the resulting vibrations per second is used as a standard for tuning a musical
instrument.
What is the meaning of the tuning fork mark?
The three tuning forks of the Yamaha logo mark represent the cooperative relationship that links the three pillars of our business -- technology, production, and sales. They
also evoke the robust vitality that has forged our reputation for sound and music the world over, a territory signified by the enclosing circle. The mark also symbolizes the
three essential musical elements: melody, harmony, and rhythm.
What is a hoo?
The hoo, a Chinese phoenix, is a mythical bird of luck, long revered in China alongside the kylin (an imaginary fiery horse), turtles, and dragons. Its appearance is said to
herald the birth of an Emperor possessing saintly virtues. The front part resembles a kylin, and the rear that of a deer; the neck, a snake; the tail, a fish; the back, a turtle; the
jaw, a swallow; and the beak, a chicken. In addition, the feathers of the hoo are said to feature a five-colored crest. The design featuring a hoo holding a tuning fork in its
mouth was established as the trademark in 1898, one year after Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. was founded. The trademark was used on organs.
