[CAUT] Upright tone openings

[Laurence Libin]

Early 19th-century pianos were normally played with the lid closed to hide the guts and preserve the tuning. In general, loudness and brilliance weren't favored; 'sweet' tone was (we might call it muffled and blurred, they didn't), so keeping the lid shut wasn't a liability. Most players were female amateurs and most piano music was written for them to play at home. Their pianos also were designed to appeal to feminine taste (visual as well as aural). That all started to change with the introduction of the iron frame (for stability) accommodating higher tension and pitch, and the vogue for virtuoso recitals. 
Laurence  

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mckeever, James I 
  To: caut at ptg.org 
  Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2011 3:55 PM
  Subject: Re: [CAUT] Upright tone openings


  Yes, I've seen pop players having the lid closed tight on a fine grand.  Why bother with the piano!  Short stick is the only compromise I will make.  Never all the way down.   I show soloists that I can play as soft as they need, and have a nice clear sound, not muffled and blurred.   For some instruments, lid all the way up.

   

  Jim McKeever

   

  From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Fred Sturm
  Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2011 1:47 PM
  To: caut at ptg.org
  Subject: Re: [CAUT] Upright tone openings

   

  On Feb 27, 2011, at 12:39 PM, Mckeever, James I wrote:





  But we haven't talked about tone yet!  Tone quality has to be altered with the woods surrounding the strings absorbing some partials.  Other factors?

   

  Essentially it is like playing a grand with the lid closed.

  Regards,

  Fred Sturm

  fssturm at unm.edu

  http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/FredSturm

   
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