[pianotech] Julius Bluthner rebuild recording

[Richard Brekne]

Hi Stéphane, any others interested...

We just had one of Europes better known piano forté pianists in for a 
masterclass today and will give a concert tomorrow and he was interested 
in checking out the Bluthner.  Bart Van Oort.  He was absolutely 
enthralled !  This is the first direct feedback I've had from someone 
who's very familiar with how these kinds of instruments sound.  I had 
just made some adjustments to add some stiffness to the cross over area 
between the lower tenor and bass bridge and the sound <<improvement>> 
was quite significant. His only "criticism" actually went in the 
opposite direction my ears want me to go with this thing.  He said it 
was just a bit too boomy in the lower tenor and bass... which was what 
I'd just addressed.  He also said if I was looking for a Brahms kind of 
sound then I should leave it like I have it, but if I was looking for an 
earlier period sound I should thin out the lower tenor and bass and 
concentrate on an flat clean attack sound that does not swell.

Very encouraging comments to be sure.  I'll have to try and get a decent 
recording of this instrument pretty soon and post it. In anycase... I'm 
tickled pink at his response.

Cheers
RicB


    Richard,

    Your Blüthner project sounds like a success.  The piano is very
    musical, and
    retains that oldish feel that so easily disappears when you do severe
    restoration.  Very agreeable also is the sound that comes out when the
    pianist asks for volume.  Too often, in old pianos, you would get or
    harsh
    or confuse sound.  Nothing like that here, but only flavor magic.

    Best regards.

    Stéphane Collin.

    -----Original Message-----
    From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at
    ptg.org] On Behalf
    Of Richard Brekne
    Sent: vendredi 13 novembre 2009 20:40
    To: caut at ptg.org; Pianotech List
    Subject: [pianotech] Julius Bluthner rebuild recording


    Hi folks...

    Been so busy I haven't been able to think... but we took the Bluther in
    use again even tho I a STILL not finished with the case work. So I
    decided to do a quick little sound-byte recording for anyone interested
    in how this thing will end up sounding.  This is just a short 2 minute
    clip from the opening of Chopins Etude Op. 10 no. 3. Its a simple mp3
    stereo recorder just placed at the bent side instrument, open top... no
    attempt at making a wonderful sound recording yet.  I'll get to that
    when I finnally finish the project.  In anycase for curious minds...

    http://www.pianostemmer.no/music/Chopin.mp3

    Cheers
    RicB