--- Mickey Kessler <mickeykes2@uf.znet.com> wrote: > These observations seem consistent with what Franz > Mohr said in his > autobiography (at least in the excerpts I've read). > If I remember > correctly, he strongly disputed claims that Horowitz > ever requested, or > got, any special modifications to his piano. In > fact, Mohr gave the > impression that Horowitz wasn't particularly > demanding about the instrument > -- though he seems to have let his stage fright > spill out onto the > technician from time to time. > > This contradicts a Horowitz biography of some years > ago which claimed the > treble hammers were made hard as glass at the > maestro's insistence. Given > that that biography also made a lot of baseless > allegations against > Horowitz (for example, that he had a very limited > repertoire), I'm inclined > to believe Mr. Mohr. > > Mickey Kessler Mickey, I'm not so sure this is correct. In the reminiscences of Franz Mohr that I have, from the book 'The Lives of the Piano' He says that Horrowitz wanted a brighter sound. quote. "As I began to file the hammers Horrowitz insisted I take off more and more. I protested all the way, and told him the piano would sound like tin cans. Well, Horrowitz got the sound he wanted, but it was the sound of tin cans and I had to throw away the hammers after his performance, No one else would have used them" unquote This referred to the preparation of a piano for a recording of Rachmainov Third, not THE Horrowitz piano - but it may give some insight into the relationship between Mohr and Horrowitz. Bob. __________________________________________________ Yahoo! Plus For a better Internet experience http://www.yahoo.co.uk/btoffer
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC