<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><DIV><DIV>On May 7, 2007, at 5:56 AM, Porritt, David wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">In reality, with most pianists the instrument is chosen based on some</FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">perceived quality more often than real qualities unless there is some</FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">obvious disparity in the instruments.</FONT></P> </BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR><DIV><SPAN class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </SPAN>Yes, very true. And those perceived qualities are most often those one senses at the keyboard, not necessarily those that project to the hall. Personally (putting on my pianist's hat), I find that I will "make a connection" with one instrument more than with another, for whatever reason. It might be something to do with regulation, feel of the keyboard, might be something to do with voicing. In any case, it has to do with the experience of making music, a very subjective feeling, not necessarily an objective notion. If the piano is "inspiring" I am more likely to produce an "inspired" performance. This may well be tightly connected with particular pieces I will be playing, and with specific passages where I want some effect. On which piano does it work best?</DIV><DIV><SPAN class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </SPAN>And, frankly, that sense of connection can be a very flighty thing. A piano I love one day may well be "Hohum" tomorrow. A piano I find strident one day is nice and brassy the next. A mellow, silky piano becomes dull and lifeless. What has changed? I have.</DIV><DIV><SPAN class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </SPAN>Are pianists idiots? Yep, we are <G>.<BR><DIV><DIV>Regards,</DIV><DIV>Fred Sturm</DIV><DIV>University of New Mexico</DIV><DIV><A href="mailto:fssturm@unm.edu">fssturm@unm.edu</A></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV></DIV><BR></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV></BODY></HTML>