"Sea Level Pianos" (long!)

[Rick.Florence@ASU.Edu]

John,

I've been thinking about your last response for a few days now and I'm
sorry but I just don't get it.  I must preface this massage by stating that
I do know all too well the climate in Calgary - I lived there (and other
areas of southern Alberta) for 20 years.  I also lived in Utah for eight
years and have been in Arizona now for close to four years.  I do have an
acute understanding of very dry and harsh conditions - both cold and hot.

>The climate here is
>exceedingly cold and dry and unless a piano is specifically built to
>withstand it it won't do very well (IMO).

I understand that outside conditions are horrendous, but it's the inside
climate that we are worried about.  It doesn't get cold inside.  Dry indoor
conditions (10-15% humidity) are not unique to Calgary.

>You would first have to convince me by example that the Fazioli is made out
>of the correct woods for this climate (the most important) and is
>manufactured using techniques which will stand up under this climate. The NY
>Steinway has proven itself repeatedly to be capable of withstanding it, plus
>they are built with native woods using time-honoured processes.

I suggest that you talk to Rick Baldassin about this.  He has been using
the Fazioli in concert work for a few years now and has no problems with
them standing up to Utah's climate.  Salt Lake City's climate, by the way,
is very similar to if not worse than that of Calgary.  Indoor humidity in
the winter of 10-15% and hot and dry in the summer.  Elevation is  4200
ft., where Calgary is at 3440 ft.

>Part of the problem is the one that was here for Ciccolini did NOT stand up
>to our climate. While it wasn't given the chance to stabilize either, it
>still did not stand up as well as the Steinways which have been brought in
>under similar conditions.

I can't really respond to this as I have no idea what kind of prep work was
done to these pianos prior to delivery or their age.  If you didn't give
the Fazioli enough time to stabilize, I don't buy the claim that the
climate had anything to do with it.  I do know that it takes a great deal
of work and time to get a new Steinway up to performance level.  We receive
new Steinways yearly for our school loan program.  Although it is a benefit
to the school, it is frustrating to work on a piano for a year and finally
have it start to open up just to start over again with another new piano.


I get the impression from your posts that you are very pro-Steinway and
that you prefer the American Steinway sound.  I have no problem with that.
I also am fond of a well built and well prepared Steinway.  I feel, however
that it is wrong to claim that other pianos don't do well in your dry
climate because they are not made of native woods, or perhaps don't produce
the sound that you prefer.

>Even a Hamburg, which theoretically is almost identical with the NY piano
>>except for the woods, reacts differently and not very favourably here.

I disagree.  The Hamburg and American Steinway are two very different
pianos.  They are not just different in the choices of woods.  The wood
choice is not really an issue of native vs.imported.  The real issue is
that because of the different woods being used in the rim, pinblock, and
soundboard, the pianos will produce very different sounds.   The actions
are different, not just by manufacturer (Renner vs. New York) but in
geometry (key ratios, knuckle position) pinning and wood selection, and
hammer philosophy.  I really don't know what you mean by the Hamburg not
reacting favourably in Calgary.  If it means that you can't get the Hamburg
to sound or play like an American Steinway - that's no surprise me - they
are different.  The Hamburg and American piano will always sound and play
differently, no matter where you are on the globe.

Here in Arizona we also have to deal with extremely dry conditions -
believe me when I tell you that it is dry.  At ASU we have in our concert
and recital halls a Hamburg Steinway, American Steinway (2), Falcone,
Yamaha CF, and a Kawai EX. All of these pianos are made of different woods,
native and otherwise.  There is no, absolutely none, evidence that one
brand of piano holds up any better than the other.  They are all very solid
pianos.  They do, of course, have very different sounds and touch - we want
that, it gives the artists choices for expression.

Life would be pretty boring if we only had the American Steinway, even if
it is a great piano.

----
Rick Florence, Piano Technician
 Arizona State University School of Music
 Rick.Florence@ASU.Edu