[CAUT] clavichord

[Laurence Libin]

Simplicity can be elegant as well as crude. The type Pfeiffer describes is 
also represented at the Met, and while very simple or basic, it's really 
cleverly designed and does its intended job efficiently and economically 
(compact, few moving parts, quickly tuned, very low maintenance, 
inexpensive, etc.). Of course design and workmanship are two different 
aspects; an elegant design can be crudely executed. Every instrument 
deserves to be judged individually on the basis of the maker's intent and 
standards of its day. I'd guess there's a higher proportion of crudely-made 
pianos being produced today than in 1800, and even fine makers occasionally 
turn out a lemon. My point is that labeling a class of old instruments 
'crude' by modern standards isn't fair and tends to inhibit appreciation of 
their possible merits.
Laurence

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fred Sturm" <fssturm at unm.edu>
To: <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, February 11, 2011 4:54 PM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] clavichord


> On Feb 11, 2011, at 2:35 PM, Laurence Libin wrote:
>
>> It's a mistake to think of early pianos as crude; some are highly 
>> sophisticated instruments by any standard, starting with Cristofori's.
>
>
> Cristofori's were/are the opposite of crude: extraordinarily 
> sophisticated. But some of those early squares were, shall we say,  pretty 
> basic. In one case, described by Pfeiffer, the hammer on a  shank 
> rectangular in cross section, lying directly on the key, hinged  to the 
> key with parchment. End of the shank sticking out beyond the  end of the 
> key to hit against a bumper rail. That being the action in  total. I call 
> that crude, comparatively speaking. Still, a functional  instrument. I'd 
> also call the actions of the squares with "fixed  pilote" (a stiff wire 
> with a leather bit on top that pushed the hammer  up, no escapement, no 
> check) rather crude. The rest of the instrument  was usually sophisticated 
> cabinetry, but the action was about as  unsophisticated as you can get. 
> Once again, quite functional and also  important in getting the piano off 
> the ground as an economically  viable product.
> Regards,
> Fred Sturm
> fssturm at unm.edu
> "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." Twain
>