[CAUT] sanctuary formula

[Porritt, David]

Wim:

Having played for many churches both large and small I believe there is
no piano made that will support 300 voices.  In a good acoustical
environment where people really do sing, there is a tremendous amount of
power in the voices.  I accompanied a choir of 120 voices and couldn't
keep up with them.  Even when playing a 27-rank organ with that choir it
was quite a job as the conductor loved the effect of FFFF then subito
PPPP.  At those times I was impressed with the amount of power generated
by just 120 people.  I personally think that's one of the reasons large
churches just forgo the piano and use an organ that can be heard.

dave

David M. Porritt
dporritt at smu.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Willem Blees
Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 11:42 AM
To: CAUT
Subject: [CAUT] sanctuary formula

Has any one every devised a formula to figure out the optimum size of 
piano for a sanctuary? I realize there are a lot of variables with 
this, but what I am looking for is a guide to help churches and 
concert halls determine what size piano they should have. The 
dealer I work for and I discussed this the other day. There are too 
many churches that get too small a piano to fill the santuary, and 
then wonder why the piano breaks down after a couple of years 

Wim 
Willem Blees, RPT
Piano Tuner/Technician
School of Music
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL USA