[CAUT] Hamburg Steinway

[Jim Busby]

David,

 

So right. In fact, we did a "blind" test with some pianists and it was
more or less 50% between the Hamburg and the NY Ds, but even after that
most chose the Hamburg over the NY. Go figure.

 

Jim

 

________________________________

From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Porritt, David
Sent: Monday, May 07, 2007 9:50 AM
To: College and University Technicians
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Hamburg Steinway

 

Fred:

 

Pianists are not idiots they have choices and they make them.  Many
pianists - unlike you - make the choice by a familiar name on the
fallboard rather than "making a connection" with the instrument.  I
guess that's an easier way to choose.

 

dp

 

David M. Porritt

dporritt at smu.edu

________________________________

From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Fred Sturm
Sent: Monday, May 07, 2007 9:57 AM
To: College and University Technicians
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Hamburg Steinway

 

On May 7, 2007, at 5:56 AM, Porritt, David wrote:

 

In reality, with most pianists the instrument is chosen based on some

perceived quality more often than real qualities unless there is some

obvious disparity in the instruments.

 

            Yes, very true. And those perceived qualities are most often
those one senses at the keyboard, not necessarily those that project to
the hall. Personally (putting on my pianist's hat), I find that I will
"make a connection" with one instrument more than with another, for
whatever reason. It might be something to do with regulation, feel of
the keyboard, might be something to do with voicing. In any case, it has
to do with the experience of making music, a very subjective feeling,
not necessarily an objective notion. If the piano is "inspiring" I am
more likely to produce an "inspired" performance. This may well be
tightly connected with particular pieces I will be playing, and with
specific passages where I want some effect. On which piano does it work
best?

            And, frankly, that sense of connection can be a very flighty
thing. A piano I love one day may well be "Hohum" tomorrow. A piano I
find strident one day is nice and brassy the next. A mellow, silky piano
becomes dull and lifeless. What has changed? I have.

            Are pianists idiots? Yep, we are <G>.

Regards,

Fred Sturm

University of New Mexico

fssturm at unm.edu

 

 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/caut.php/attachments/20070507/4cb3a9b2/attachment.html