Hi good folkens Today I received a suprise package from Katie Stuart who was kind enough to send me a copy of their very well produced promotional DVD telling some of the Stuart story, and including a good deal of wonderful piano sound comming from one of the Stuart grand pianos. I simply have to tell you all this thing really has a way of growing on you. Not because it is <<better>> then other pianos... more because it is so very different and obviously very a refined instrument. My origional observations that the sound these produce are reminiscent of that pre-Steinway period of the Forte' pianos with their magnificent bass tones and long sustain times were strengthened watching the DVD. But the Stuarts also have a great deal more power then forte pianos did... and the treble, tho also familiar in colour to the forte, has much more clarity. The more I listen to them the more I wonder if this sound had been refined back in the late 1800's whether the Steinway dominance of today would have come to pass. Steinway led the charge for more power, more loudness, more eveness, and the cost was it seems to me that tremendous amount of colour that fortes had and that the Stuart has. Its almost as if Stuart decided to take the very best of what forte sound was all about, and impart to it as much power, clarity, and sustain as he could without really drifting so very far from that source. At least thats how it strikes me. Frankly... if I had the bucks I'd buy one for our conservatory just so that pianists would have a chance to sit down, experience, and be forced to reconsider what piano music is all about.... or what it could be all about. I'd love to see these introduced seriously to Europe and America. Cheers RicB
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