[CAUT] Steinway "sound"

[James Schmitt]

Jim,  As a lieder singer myself and a voice instructor at Marylhurst  
University I find it critical to make sure my pianos have very  
consistent let off and a wide range of choices in the pedal system.
James Schmitt
Marylhurst University
On Feb 18, 2011, at 11:54 AM, Mckeever, James I wrote:

> Ed and all,
>
> I joined these lists to learn and ask questions as I go about  
> finding appropriate pianos for our new facility.  I’m a pianist, and  
> still overwhelmed with all the technical variables I am learning  
> about!  I can’t keep up with the traffic, so I unsubscribed from the  
> tech list.  I Imagine some of you monitor both.
>
> On the other list, a concert by Joshua Bell and the prep of the  
> Steinway which was used was discussed at length.  The reporter said  
> the piano was weak (not his word!) and uncolorful.  I didn’t see  
> anyone ask the question:  was the lid all the way up? If it was and  
> the description is adequate, fine.  If not, that is the reason for  
> the tone.
>
> I would always rather have the lid up and control the tone as  
> needed.  So much more clarity  and color.  Depending on the player/ 
> instrument/voice, I may use the UC at times.  I try to educate  
> soloists who want the lid down (I’m not their competition!).   
> Muffled, mixed-up sound.
>
> My school owns an 8’4” Schimmel.  Wonderful for collaborations and  
> chamber music.  Lid up, of course.  Clarity and fundamental of the  
> European sound allows for wonderful balance at all volume levels and  
> with all types of ensembles.  Players often comment that they were  
> happy not to have to compete with the heavier, thicker tone of a “D.”
>
> Schubert Lieder?  We have a soprano with a beautiful but not big  
> voice.  Then I play on our 1816 reproduction Nannette Streicher.   
> Now I understand the many colors of Schubert!  Her unforced and  
> sometimes soft voice, and the many colors and clarity possible by  
> multiple pedals is enchanting!
>
> Jim McKeever
> University of Wisconsin-Parkside
>
> From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf  
> Of Ed Sutton
> Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2011 9:26 PM
> To: caut at ptg.org
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Steinway "sound"
>
> This has been a remarkable discussion.
> The question "What is a good piano?" has so many factors.
> We have hardly discussed architecture and humidity, to mention two  
> other issues.
> In a recital hall where I have tuned, all the pianos sound dull. One  
> day I listened as a visiting violinist tested the stage, walking  
> around and finally finding his performance place at the  edge of the  
> stage, in front of the proscenium, where, unfortunately, the pianos  
> can't go. Incredible efforts have gone into voicing the pianos,  
> which do have problems, I think, but we won't know for sure on that  
> stage.
> And what are the effects of 20% relative humidity on a compression  
> crowned soundboard?
> Ed S.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Fred Sturm
> To: caut at ptg.org
> Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2011 7:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Steinway "sound"
>
> On Feb 17, 2011, at 1:37 PM, David Love wrote:
>
>
> While I agree with this generally and also have experienced the  
> effects first hand I have to add a caution about throwing the baby  
> out with the bath, so to speak.
>
> Yes, absolutely. But I think that for the most part on this list and  
> on pianotech previously, there has been a purely one-sided  
> presentation of these things and thought I should provide a  
> cautionary counter-story. We, as cauts, are in the position of  
> deciding or helping to decide about our concert instruments, whether  
> replacement or rebuilding/remanufacture. It has been stated often,  
> and correctly IMO, that remanufacture is a perfectly acceptable  
> alternative - with the proviso that whoever is doing that work is  
> competent. (One can argue that in any case it is a bit of a crap  
> shoot, as one can't predict outcomes precisely, but let's leave that  
> to the side).
> Another opinion often stated is that it is especially beneficial to  
> remanufacture with redesign, and the claim or inference is that one  
> will always end up with better than the manufacturer's output,  
> because these redesign elements are based on sound engineering, etc.  
> And all I am saying is it ain't necessarily so. Maybe sometimes,  
> maybe if it is done by someone who knows how to balance things, but  
> it is also quite possible that the sum of all those "improvements"  
> ends up being a negative. Sometimes, not always.
> Bottom line, one should look before leaping, investigate references,  
> look personally at previous work, have your own faculty do the same,  
> etc.
> I am all for experimentation, for challenging assumptions and common  
> practices. But I am also painfully aware that the most logical and  
> consistent model in the world is no substitute for the real world,  
> and it is in the real world that we live. A lot of things look good  
> on paper, sound good as ideas, but don't actually work, or not  
> nearly as well as expected; or they have unexpected side effects.
> Regards,
> Fred Sturm
> fssturm at unm.edu
> http://www.youtube.com/fredsturm
>

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