Fortepiano, Beethoven's last Grand Piano

Beethoven received this grand piano shortly before his death from the Viennese piano maker Conrad Graf. This modern fortepiano outshone anything that had ever existed before. Because instead of plucking the strings like a harpsichord or clavichord, felt hammers produced the sound. This not only made entirely new, more sensitive playing techniques possible, but also gave Beethoven a wider range of tones.