Avery, A fortepiano (at least a fairly early one, which is what you are probably most likely to get) is much closer in design and maintenance needs to a harpsichord than to a modern piano. Tuning stability is generally worse than with a harpsichord, if anything. Note that it will be very temperature sensitive as well as humidity sensitive (wood case, metal strings, no metal plate to compensate). Probably temperature has more of an effect than humidity - think stage lights. And the action tends to be more labor intensive than a harpsichord as well. This is not intended to discourage purchase - I'm a great fan of early keyboard instruments. Playing a Haydn sonata on an instrument of the time is a real epiphany, as is CPE Bach and JC Bach (and Benda and all those others nobody plays much because they aren't really suitable either for modern piano or for harpsichord). Educationally a wonderful thing to have. (And it would be nice to have a later model as well, for the early 19th cent literature). But lots of work. Regards, Fred Sturm University of New Mexico Avery Todd wrote: > > List, > > Was just wondering if any of you have to service/maintain a Fortepiano > at your school. --- > > 1. Is there much difference in the maintenance and regulation of these > instruments compared to the modern grand? > > 2. What about the tuning? Stability, pitch level, etc. > > 3. Is there someplace I can get information about all this? > > 4. What are good brands/sources? > > Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. > > Avery >
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