[CAUT] to sign or not to sign

[Richard Brekne]

Outside of the obvious that at some point the plate will start looking 
like spilled black ink rather then a grand plate... I'd say this kind of 
thing is simply bound to have opponents and supporters, with some very 
strong opinions on both sides. Not a biggie really otherwise tho.  Tho I 
must admit that having Luke Skywalker sign seems a bit odd :) Perhaps a 
middle road could be taken... let any future artist who wants to put 
their John Nehhry do so... but dont bring the subject up if they dont.

Cheers
RicB


    Our university music department (Wake Forest University in
    Winston-Salem, North Carolina) just bought a new Steinway D.  This
    has started an unexpected discussion.  Our old S&SD was bought in
    1968 for a concert by Authur Rubinstein.  During the last few years,
    when a concert was given on this piano by a noteworthy pianist, that
    pianist was asked to sign the plate with a black sharpie.  Among the
    signatures are Stephen Hough, Ruth Loredo, Alicia de Larrocha,
    Menachem Pressler,
    Richard Goode, Philippe Entremont, Arcadi Volodos, and Mark Andre
    Hamlin.  Some of our students and faculty are thrilled to see those
    signatures as reminders that the piano they are playing has been
    played by such great pianists.  Others think it degrades the piano. 
    The discussion is: do we want to continue this practice of plate
    signing on the new S&S D. Someone asked if it increases or decreases
    the value of the piano. (Probably not either way.) What are your
    thoughts on this?

    John D. Chapman
    Wake Forest University
    Winston-Salem NC 27109