From www.davidlanz.com:

In 1709 in Florence, Italy, a harpsichord builder named Bartolomeo Cristofori completed work on what is regarded as the first piano.

"I cannot imagine the world without the piano. In my mind, it is the most divinely inspired instrument on earth, and Cristofori's work produced quantum-leap advance in its development. For the first piece on this album, I imagined Cristofori in his workshop late at night, putting away his tools and blowing out his candles after a long day of work, wondering to himself how his new instrument might sound. He drifts off into a deep sleep and in a dream he finally hears the depth and beauty of our modern piano. We all owe Cristofori a debt of gratitude, and this album is dedicated to him, a great inventor whom history has overlooked. May his 'dream' live forever."
------------- David Lanz