Voicing

[David Love]

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The analogy about the engine had to do with being thorough in a task.  I =
thought it was appropriate.  Nobody ever said anything about not giving =
the customer what they wanted.  The discussion had to do with voicing =
procedures.  For example, I am preparing a set of Renner hammers for a =
Bechstein.  Even if I were unaware of whether the customer wanted the =
piano bright or mellow, it would not change my preparation of the =
foundation of the hammer.  I needle the shoulder to get resilience into =
the hammer.  If she wants it mellow I will attend to that by needling =
nearer the crown and/or shallow needling on the crown.  If she wants it =
bright I might sharpen the attack by filing the hammer slightly or =
ironing the felt.  Similarly, I am preparing a set of Steinway hammers =
for another customer.  I don't actually know how they will like it, =
bright or mellow.  But I will lacquer the hammer anyway because it needs =
to be firmed up underneath to give some firmness and clarity to the =
tone.  If they want it bright I will but a drop or two of solution on =
the strike point to sharpen the attack, if they want it mellow, I won't. =


The point is that certain hammers require certain basic preparations.  =
Good hammers can be brought either way from there.  I am not so arrogant =
as to impose on a customer that it's my way or the highway.  But I am =
also confident enough to know that there are basic procedures that =
should be done with any given hammer to ensure that whichever way you =
end up going, bright or mellow, the hammer will perform properly. =20

David Love
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: David M. Porritt=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: August 13, 2002 5:09 PM
  Subject: Voicing


  I've been fascinated by the discussion on voicing.  I try to listen to =
the kind of words people use to describe the tone they like.  If they =
say "I like a bright, crisp piano,  I don't like the muffled ones"  I =
know how to proceed.  If they say they like a mellow, warm piano not a =
brassy tinny one, I know how to proceed there.  The analogy of the =
engine timing is not appropriate as there is indeed a right and wrong =
timing specification for each engine. =20

  A better analogy would be how much jalapeno to put in the bean dip.  =
Tastes vary, and there's no right and wrong.  We are like chefs that are =
hired to cater a party.  The customer wants her bean dip to suit her =
tastes and it's our job to deliver what they want whether it is our =
preference or not.  Of course we can gather up our pots and pans and go =
home if we want to be temperamental, but I'd rather give them what they =
want.

  I have a customer with a D.M.A. in piano performance who likes her =
piano somewhat brighter than I like.  She has stated that she would =
rather work harder for the pianissimo than to have to work so hard for =
the fortissimo.  It's her piano.  She spent thousands on it, and it's =
hers, not mine.  I have another customer with an equal academic =
background who wants his piano darker than I would like.  He claims that =
if he practices several hours on a piano that is brighter, his ears =
fatigue and he misses little subtle nuances.  It's his piano, not mine.

  If we remember who bought and paid for the instruments I guess it's up =
to us to give them what they want, or gather up our pots and pans and =
leave.  I'd rather stay.

  dave
_____________________________
David M. Porritt
dporritt@mail.smu.edu
Meadows School of the Arts
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX 75275
_____________________________


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