Good customer Paul McNulty http://www.fortepiano.eu/ sent me these pictures of his latest project.
A replica of a Graf piano made for Beethoven around 1825. It was made for the Kunsthistorische Museum Wein. Humbling stuff!
Wow, now that is a piece (of playable) furniture ... I wonder what the five pedals are for ??? I thought most had two, maybe three ??? Should be well into dovetailing this time next week !!!
The humbling part is finishing today a recording by a good loyal friend of Beethoven Diabelli variations on this new piano somewhat before its time. They can take four years to sound good. I jumped the gun, and feel sorry for the wasted moment. These things happen. The pedals are, from left to right: 1 una corda shift (this four string piano shifts only to two strings, like the modern piano, but even moderns call it una corda), 2 single moderator (interposing thin layer of cloth between hammer and string, making sound warm and soft), 3 double moderator (second layer of two, staggered one atop the other - rail travels further, interposing two layers for dark, haunted sound), 4 sustaining (lifts dampers), 5 Janissary music (this pedal engages a big drumstick with leather pad stuffed with plane shavings, beating on the soundboard, together with a cymbal - a block with thin brass plate, crashing onto the bass strings - and three bells tuned in c# minor. Very common in Vienna ca.1820)
The humbling part is finishing today a recording by a good loyal friend of Beethoven Diabelli variations on this new piano somewhat before its time. They can take four years to sound good. I jumped the gun, and feel sorry for the wasted moment. These things happen. The pedals are, from left to right: 1 una corda shift (this four string piano shifts only to two strings, like the modern piano, but even moderns call it una corda), 2 single moderator (interposing thin layer of cloth between hammer and string, making sound warm and soft), 3 double moderator (second layer of two, staggered one atop the other - rail travels further, interposing two layers for dark, haunted sound), 4 sustaining (lifts dampers), 5 Janissary music (this pedal engages a big drumstick with leather pad stuffed with plane shavings, beating on the soundboard, together with a cymbal - a block with thin brass plate, crashing onto the bass strings - and three bells tuned in c# minor. Very common in Vienna ca.1820)
The humbling part is finishing today a recording by a good loyal friend of Beethoven Diabelli variations on this new piano somewhat before its time. They can take four years to sound good. I jumped the gun, and feel sorry for the wasted moment. These things happen. The pedals are, from left to right: 1 una corda shift (this four string piano shifts only to two strings, like the modern piano, but even moderns call it una corda), 2 single moderator (interposing thin layer of cloth between hammer and string, making sound warm and soft), 3 double moderator (second layer of two, staggered one atop the other - rail travels further, interposing two layers for dark, haunted sound), 4 sustaining (lifts dampers), 5 Janissary music (this pedal engages a big drumstick with leather pad stuffed with plane shavings, beating on the soundboard, together with a cymbal - a block with thin brass plate, crashing onto the bass strings - and three bells tuned in c# minor. Very common in Vienna ca.1820)
Wow, now that is a piece (of playable) furniture ... I wonder what the five pedals are for ??? I thought most had two, maybe three ??? Should be well into dovetailing this time next week !!!
ReplyDeleteYou know more than me! I'm looking forward to next week, it would be a good idea to bring your Moxon vice with you.
DeleteDefinitely will be bringing my Moxon vice. Spent a good while planing yesterday, need a planer thicknesser !!!
ReplyDeleteThe humbling part is finishing today a recording by a good loyal friend of Beethoven Diabelli variations on this new piano somewhat before its time. They can take four years to sound good. I jumped the gun, and feel sorry for the wasted moment. These things happen. The pedals are, from left to right: 1 una corda shift (this four string piano shifts only to two strings, like the modern piano, but even moderns call it una corda), 2 single moderator (interposing thin layer of cloth between hammer and string, making sound warm and soft), 3 double moderator (second layer of two, staggered one atop the other - rail travels further, interposing two layers for dark, haunted sound), 4 sustaining (lifts dampers), 5 Janissary music (this pedal engages a big drumstick with leather pad stuffed with plane shavings, beating on the soundboard, together with a cymbal - a block with thin brass plate, crashing onto the bass strings - and three bells tuned in c# minor. Very common in Vienna ca.1820)
ReplyDeleteThank you for that very detailed reply, that sounds very complicated!
DeleteActually I copied an instrument from the Kunsthistorischesmuseum Wien for this piano.
ReplyDeleteActually I copied an instrument from the Kunsthistorischesmuseum Wien for this piano.
ReplyDeleteThe humbling part is finishing today a recording by a good loyal friend of Beethoven Diabelli variations on this new piano somewhat before its time. They can take four years to sound good. I jumped the gun, and feel sorry for the wasted moment. These things happen. The pedals are, from left to right: 1 una corda shift (this four string piano shifts only to two strings, like the modern piano, but even moderns call it una corda), 2 single moderator (interposing thin layer of cloth between hammer and string, making sound warm and soft), 3 double moderator (second layer of two, staggered one atop the other - rail travels further, interposing two layers for dark, haunted sound), 4 sustaining (lifts dampers), 5 Janissary music (this pedal engages a big drumstick with leather pad stuffed with plane shavings, beating on the soundboard, together with a cymbal - a block with thin brass plate, crashing onto the bass strings - and three bells tuned in c# minor. Very common in Vienna ca.1820)
ReplyDeleteThe humbling part is finishing today a recording by a good loyal friend of Beethoven Diabelli variations on this new piano somewhat before its time. They can take four years to sound good. I jumped the gun, and feel sorry for the wasted moment. These things happen. The pedals are, from left to right: 1 una corda shift (this four string piano shifts only to two strings, like the modern piano, but even moderns call it una corda), 2 single moderator (interposing thin layer of cloth between hammer and string, making sound warm and soft), 3 double moderator (second layer of two, staggered one atop the other - rail travels further, interposing two layers for dark, haunted sound), 4 sustaining (lifts dampers), 5 Janissary music (this pedal engages a big drumstick with leather pad stuffed with plane shavings, beating on the soundboard, together with a cymbal - a block with thin brass plate, crashing onto the bass strings - and three bells tuned in c# minor. Very common in Vienna ca.1820)
ReplyDelete