A restored 1860 Steinway square piano: Chopin and more
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- Опубліковано 11 вер 2024
- Pianist Artis Wodehouse performs a segment of Chopin's Op. 15, No. 2 Nocturne in F-sharp major on restorer Ralph Nielsen's 1860 Steinway. Nielsen, who restores historic pianos from the 18th C. to 1930 then goes on to describe the historical background driving vast technological innovations that lead to the modern piano. These innovations--developed mainly during the first half of the 19th C-- were avidly adopted by the fledgeling Steinway company. Nielsen describes the specific design characteristics of this 1860 Steinway square, and contrasts them to the all-wood 1830 Alpheus Babcock square that he had just acquired. (see his description of this historic Babcock square piano in another video on UA-cam, entitled "An early American square piano by Alpheus Babcock ca. 1830").
Nielsen explains why square pianos have a different tonal characteristic than that of a grand piano. He shows how the short-lived treble sound--an initial attack followed by a very rapid decay, a sort of "plink"-- was a built-in and inescapable artifact of the square design.
Wodehouse filmed this interview at Nielsen's shop outside of Salt Lake City, Utah on September 3rd, 2014. More information about his work can be found at his website, www.historicpianos.com
Ralph did a full restoration on my 1914 Smith & Barnes player piano and posted a video of it on his website playing Gershwin. He's FANTASTIC!!! My old piano is again the center of fun, amusement and nostalgia in my home.
I've toured his shop and he's truly dedicated to the restoration and preservation of antique pianos. I couldn't be happier with the restoration of my piano.
Seen this video at least a dozen times, always very interesting. Thanks for sharing!
very very beautiful! :D Thanks for showing :)
Thank you for sharing your talent with us. I really enjoy your posts.
Modern wire and modern hammer felt completely veils the original sound of this instrument.
Jenna Leininger my 1890 happened to have original hammers and strings. voiced back to medium mellow. this sounds a bit bright to me, but as long as the owner is happy that's cool
Well good luck with the bass strings and felt hammers being good enough for the restoration.
Nonsense.
Thank you for this video, i really enjoyed watching it.
A friend of ours just sold her house that was built in the 1690s and her family has had since then. The have an 1860 piano like this which she is leaving behind and it irks me to no end because I won't have time to go get it out myself.
“The Babcock? What is that?