The fortepiano was the primary keyboard instrument for major composers of the Classical era , including Joseph Haydn , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , and early Ludwig van Beethoven .
: Early pianos were extremely expensive and mostly owned by royalty and the aristocracy. Fortepiano Wikipedia
: Between 1790 and 1870, the instrument underwent massive changes—including the introduction of iron frames and felt hammers—eventually becoming the modern piano we recognize today. The fortepiano was the primary keyboard instrument for