Music In Monochrome – by R Casteels

In this article Robert Casteels traces the evolution of the black and white keys of present-day pianos. The headings of the paragraphs are as following: 

- Early keyboards: the Italian look; 

- 18th century innovation; 

- 19th century French colour revolution; 

- 20th century Austrian imperial style; 

- organisation of the keys; ergonomics; colour symbolism.

The article comprises four colour pictures: a Flemish harpsichord, a 1722 pianoforte by Cristofori, Mozart's pianoforte and a 2002 Steinway grand piano. 

The article was published in the magazine of the Friends of the Museum Singapore, PASSAGE, 2023 issue III (the Black and White Issue), page 7-10.