The fortepiano is an early version of the modern piano, developed in the 18th century. It features a lighter construction and a more delicate sound compared to contemporary pianos. The instrument uses hammers that strike the strings, producing a range of dynamics, which is where it gets its name—meaning "soft-loud" in Italian. Fortepianos were commonly used during the Classical and early Romantic periods, with composers like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven writing music specifically for it. Today, fortepianos are often used in historical performances to recreate the sound and style of music from that era.