preparations

[Stéphane Collin]

Hi again Tish.

Nice reading you.

I can agree with the search for new possibilities of an existing instrument.
But now, take a Bösendorfer Imperial, and next to it a Yamaha G2.  Put a 
teaspoon between the two strings of C#2 of each piano, and play C#2 on each 
piano.  Which one sounds best ?
That was my point.
My search beyond the limits would be : between the Bösendorfer Imperial and 
the Yamaha G2 choose the better instrument (after removing the spoons), then 
try and negociate to put them in a nice acoustic (Concertgebouw ?), try why 
not to put the instrument on a concrete floor, or a wooden one, see the 
difference and choose for the better result, then work on the curtains on 
the walls, or remove those, depending on how many people would attend when 
playing, set the casters parallel to north south magnetic line or 
perpendicular, or at the angle that gives best results, then get a super 
concert prep tech and take his temperature, if reasonable, have him regulate 
and voice the instrument ad libitum, then touch up the very place where the 
instrument sits, touch up the lighting, muting the bench noises, getting 
those shoes which won't squeak when pedaling, call for a shia-tsu eminence 
to give a go just before the performance, and for the very moment that I 
need a gong in the piece, I'd choose between those marvellous Tibetan things 
who make unbelievable gong sounds, get the one that matches best the piano I 
chose, put it in the right place that makes the stereo stage most mystical, 
and travel miles to find the right mallet which will get the best blend of 
harmonics out of it.  When I need the thunder sheet, I borrow it from the 
Wagnerian opera next door.
Sorry for being long, but when prepping a piano the way Cage does or 
whoever, you simply loose contact to the qualities (if any) of the 
instrument.  I don't call this extending it's limits, I call this spoiling 
it's abilities.
Did you try the old forgotten trick to make the 10 few lowest dampers start 
earlier than the others when pedaling ? Makes wonders, especially on 
straight strung instruments, and under thoroughly prepped feet.

Best regards.

Stéphane Collin.