<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <META NAME="Generator" CONTENT="MS Exchange Server version = 5.5.2651.67"> <TITLE>RE: Question</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> I agree with Stephen = on this issue. I have heard many lovely-sounding, responsive pianos = made to sound ugly by pianists who couldn't be listening to themselves. = Pianists must find the balance point between strength and beauty in any = instrument - it's not always just a question of playing too loud, = either. I've heard concerts on pianos I've prepared where the piano = sounded strangely out of whack or balance (driving me to despair) only = to hear the same piano sound glorious the next day when played by a = different pianist (raising me from my despair). A good pianist quickly = figures out how to "stroke" an instrument and bring the most = out of it whereas it seems that many simply don't seem to have an = affinity for the instrument. This is a really good reason to attend as = many concerts performed on instruments you have prepared as is = possible. You can hear them at their best and at their worst and = continue to figure out how to find the ideal. Eric ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eric Wolfley, = RPT Head Piano = Technician Cincinnati College = Conservatory of Music University of = Cincinnati ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ <UL> -----Original Message----- From:   Stephen Birkett = [SMTP:birketts@wright.aps.uoguelph.ca] Sent:   Tuesday, October 03, 2000 3:44 PM To:     caut@ptg.org Subject:       = Re: Question Having been involved with piano = performance from both sides of the fence (i.e. pianist and technician) - and these = remarks apply equally to both historical and modern pianos - it is ultimately the = responsibility of the pianist to adapt as required to meet the characteristics = of whatever instrument is presented. There is no excuse for banging fff with = rough and ugly tone. While many pianists can make some pianos sound good, it is = possible to make any piano sound bad, and, by recognizing its limitations, the true = artist is capable of making any piano sound good. In my experience there is = no shortage of spoiled-brat un-thinking superstar pianists, however there is = a serious shortage of true artists. Go think. Stephen Stephen Birkett Fortepianos 464 Winchester Drive Waterloo, Ontario Canada N2T 1K5 tel:519-885-2228 mailto: = birketts@wright.aps.uoguelph.ca </UL> </BODY> </HTML>