Edwin M. Good

About the Author

Edwin M. Good (1915–2011) was a distinguished scholar, musician, and author whose lifelong passion for the intersection of technology and music shaped his groundbreaking contributions to historical studies. A professor emeritus of New Testament at Stanford University, Good brought a rigorous analytical mind to his explorations of musical instruments, particularly the piano's evolution. His seminal work, Giraffes, Black Dragons, and Other Pianos: A Technological History from Cristofori to the Modern Concert Grand, Second Edition, meticulously traces the instrument's development from its invention by Bartolomeo Cristofori in the early 18th century through innovations in design, materials, and manufacturing that defined the modern concert grand. Drawing on his expertise as a pianist and academic, Good's writing illuminates the cultural and technical forces behind one of the world's most beloved instruments, offering readers a fascinating journey through centuries of ingenuity and artistry.