Christophe Schroter was born 10 August 1699 in Hohenstein-Ernstthal, and became a composer and organist. Schroter’s part in Piano History, though small, is worthy of being noted. He is one of those figures who is rarely mentioned in books on piano history. Perhaps, if he had been an instrument maker with some financial backing, things might have been different. As it was, he was a man if ideas who tried to sell the idea when the piano was still in its infancy and speculation on such a project would have seemed incautious.
Impressed by the tone and dynamic range of Hebenstreit’s Panteleon, Christophe Schroter realised the potential in making a keyboard instrument using hammers to strike the strings, so invented two ‘piano actions’ - one striking the strings from above, and one from below - diagram of 1717 action. He persuaded a cousin who was a cabinet maker, to produce a working model.
His ‘actions’ were basic, even primitive, but worked well enough as a prototype to be demonstrated to the King of Saxony, the King declined any help or investment. Schroter did not seek to develop his invention any further but his idea did find a following among the instrument makers of Germany who, used the principles of his action and adapted them to make their own pianos.
In 1724 some pianos were being made in Dresden using actions very like Schroter’s and in 1728, Silberman was making pianos at Freiberg using an action based on Schroter’s model. Thus, what became known as the ‘German’ school of piano construction was born.
Christophe Schroter died 20 May 1782 in Nordhausen.
© Steve Burden
