stacysound Posted February 3, 2019 Report Posted February 3, 2019 What a masterful piece of mechanical engineering. I’ve been around pianos all my life in the studio and I had no idea the complexity of the mechanism.
chrismedr Posted February 3, 2019 Report Posted February 3, 2019 If you enjoyed this one, get the DVD of: "Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037"! I think this was posted already in some topic here, but it's worth repeating - It's absolutely fabulous, and while there is a compressed version online somewhere, the DVD will get the people who made it some money.
Izen Ears Posted February 15, 2019 Report Posted February 15, 2019 Wowee!!! I’d LOVE to see a harpsichord version of that video...
Whippoorwill Posted February 20, 2019 Report Posted February 20, 2019 or a pianoforte or clavichord...
mono Posted July 3, 2019 Author Report Posted July 3, 2019 On 2/14/2019 at 8:04 PM, Izen Ears said: Wowee!!! I’d LOVE to see a harpsichord version of that video... On 2/19/2019 at 9:53 PM, Whippoorwill said: or a pianoforte or clavichord...
Mike Westgate Posted July 3, 2019 Report Posted July 3, 2019 I recorded several grand pianos in New Zealand and Italy for a great job. So interesting to listen and judge them, a truly great sound experience
mono Posted December 1, 2021 Author Report Posted December 1, 2021 On 2/3/2019 at 2:03 PM, chrismedr said: If you enjoyed this one, get the DVD of: "Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037"! I think this was posted already in some topic here, but it's worth repeating - It's absolutely fabulous, and while there is a compressed version online somewhere, the DVD will get the people who made it some money.
mono Posted December 20, 2021 Author Report Posted December 20, 2021 the following is © Charles Brooks Photography: The exquisite architecture of Steinway. I had a rare opportunity to photograph the action and internals of a Steinway Model D recently. I found my self in awe of the craftsmanship and attention to detail of parts of the instrument that no one except a technician would ever see, especially the carving of the joints in which reflect curves on the outside of the piano. Just the strings are a feat of engineering. They exert just over 20 tonnes of pressure on the frame! These photos were painstakingly created using a special 24mm probe lens from Laowa and a Lumix S5 camera / Sigma MC-21 Adapter / Godox Flash Typically a close up photo like this would be mostly blurry, so I used a technique called focus stacking to keep them sharp from front to back. This involves taking a series of approximately 100 photos per image, slowly adjusting the focus for each one, then running them through special software to merge the sharp part of the photo. The result appears to be a cavernous like space that invites you to walk through... Thanks to @LewisEadyLtd @chironasmrma @atollrecords and Lumix New Zealand for this opportunity. Fazioli Part 1 An internal view of the action of a Fazioli Grand Piano. This instrument is one of the finest pianos in existence. Fazioli create about 80 grand pianos a year, each one of them takes 8 years to make! To take this shot I used a special 24mm probe lens from Laowa on a Lumix S1R. Typically closeup shots like this have a very shallow depth of field. I wanted the entire photo sharp to I shot 71 photos, adjusting the focus slightly on each. These were merged in a wonderful program called Helicon Focus. The result appears cavernous, almost like architecture. This is a simple optical illusion. We're so accustomed to seeing macro photos with a short depth of field, that when we see something that's sharp all the way through our brain assumes it's massive. This is essentially the opposite of the tilt-shift-miniature effect that was so popular a few years back. Many thanks to Sly's Pianos in Auckland for access to this extraordinary instrument. Lockey Hill Cello circa 1780 I had the extremely rare honour of photographing a fine Lockey Hill cello from around 1780 at the Stringed Instrument Company in Auckland. Thanks so much to Cath for trusting me with this rare beauty! Crafted around 1780 this is a fine example of Lockey Hill's prolific work, which was unfortunately cut short after he was hanged in 1796 for horse theft! The cello is seen from the inside. It's currently in the process of restoration. It needs a lot of work but someone's going to have an absolutely exquisite instrument once this is all done and dusted! Inside every violin lives a "mouse" - meet Fritz.... "Fritz" lives inside a ~130 year old "Hopf" violin awaiting restoration at the workshop of Noel Sweetman in New Zealand. Some say he was formed from the tears of students, others that he's the embodiment of bad intonation itself... 1940s Selmer Balaced Action Saxophone This is a look inside an extraordinary instrument. Roger Manin's Selmer Balanced Action Sax from the 1940s. It had just been carefully refurbished by Neige Music Atelier in New Zealand, with Italian Pisoni Pro pads with metal resonators. 14k Gold Flute. Photographed using specialist lenses and techniques while under restoration at Neige Music Atelier in Auckland. https://www.charlesbrooks.info/about https://www.charlesbrooks.info/architecture-in-music#/museum-quality-prints/ https://www.reddit.com/user/CharlesBrooks/
mono Posted August 8, 2022 Author Report Posted August 8, 2022 " Innovative though it might be, this just seems like a piano tuner’s nightmare... "
Oscar Stern Posted February 8, 2023 Report Posted February 8, 2023 On 7/3/2019 at 12:36 AM, mono said: They actually make Pianos w/ 108 Keys spanning a 9 Octave Range like an Organ
The Documentary Sound Guy Posted January 14, 2024 Report Posted January 14, 2024 That's an outstanding performance. Thank you!
JohannesH Posted January 14, 2024 Report Posted January 14, 2024 Quote Can You Hear The Difference Between a Cheap and Expensive Piano? What do you think: How much of the differences are going onto the account of room and mic placement? (And how much differences went south in YouTube compression?) Johannes
Philip Perkins Posted January 14, 2024 Report Posted January 14, 2024 They all sound fine. But this isn't the way to judge them. In any case these instruments are show pieces, made to impress and be looked at, not intended for continuous playing by professionals. I'll take a plain old Fazioli in a great hall, thanks, not an office building lobby.
Jim Feeley Posted January 17, 2024 Report Posted January 17, 2024 Speaking of Fazioli, he's coming to Oakland California in a couple weeks. Tuesday Jan 30th. https://piedmontpiano.com/calendar/2024/1/30/paolo-fazioli
mono Posted January 1 Author Report Posted January 1 On 2/14/2019 at 8:04 PM, Izen Ears said: Wowee!!! I’d LOVE to see a harpsichord version of that video... Dec 26, 2024 " The harpsichord is a musical instrument that, by combining strings and keys in a precise mechanism, achieves a characteristic sound. In 2000, in La Selva del Camp (Tarragona), Raúl Martín was one of those artisan musicians who, captured by the formal and sonorous beauty of keyboard instruments, dedicated himself to the construction of clavichords, spinets and harpsichords. " Jun 21, 2019 " In 1793, George Washington acquired a large harpsichord for his step-granddaughter, Eleanor "Nelly" Parke Custis. For over two and a half years, John Watson, Conservator of Early Keyboard Instruments, worked to create a replica of Nelly Custis's 1793 Longman & Broderip 2-Manual Harpsichord. Dr. Joyce Lindorff, Professor of Keyboard Studies at Temple University, demonstrates what makes this unique instrument so special." Feb 19, 2018 "For years, the harpsichord at Mount Vernon stood silent, rendered unplayable by age and wear. Its sound, created by a unique design that combined elements of both the classic harpsichord and the newly emerging piano, was lost to time – until now. Through the efforts of harpsichord maker John Watson and the support of Colonial Williamsburg and the curators of Mount Vernon, this piece of musical and American history is being reborn." English Double Harpsichord restoration blog episodes playlist , below (included here is the quoted accompanying descriptor text, when available from the YT page, referencing the particular episode #, posting date.) episode#1 (Sep6, 2023) "Modern pianos have actions that can be traced back to a French builder named Erard. His innovations stretch beyond double escapement action though. He also invented agraffes, the little bolts with holes through which the strings pass. Anyway, the Erard action, though tremendously expressive for pianists, is also ridiculously finicky, requiring enormous amounts of regulation and maintenance to provide the player with all responsive touch expected of a fine instrument. The Hickman action, on the other hand, eliminated most of the squishy felt and leather contact points that wear and compress with use in a conventional action, and therefore requires less than a tenth the maintenance. Most importantly for the builders, the Hickman action requires less than a quarter of the setup time at the factory. Good news for the pianist, maybe not so good news for us technicians. But wait, there's more! A lever on the side of the keyboard allows the player to adjust the touch weight. It's like choose your own adventure for the piano. Sadly, the stock market crash of 1929 happened within months of the Hickman Action's debut, and only a handful of pianos were built, even fewer of which survive." episode#2 (Sep 6, 2023) "Mid-century harpsichords were often built with a combination of old and new technology. Ada pianos evolved into their modern form with every aspect of the action adjustable, many harpsichord builders followed suit. The end result was cumbersome actions that required more maintenance and care than their elders. Thankfully, the trend is back towards more traditional techniques. Anyway, my 1974 Brad Benn English Double Harpsichord came to me with deteriorated jacks, broken and missing plectra and tongues, and the replacement parts I acquired from Brad Benn himself were old, deteriorated, and in some cases, poorly modified. The only way I could be sure of a reliable playing experience was to replace the whole action, and I taught myself CAD to do just that." episode#4 (Sep 6, 2023) "Harpsichord jacks require some accoutrements before they can be installed. The height adjustment screw goes in the bottom, though traditional harpsichords don't have them. I kept them so I wouldn't have to replace the lower register guide through which the screws fit. Up top, the tongue goes in the jack, the plectrum goes through the tongue, and the damper goes into the clip." episode#6 (Sep 6, 2023) "It's shocking how short the distance is between off and on for harpsichord registers. Harpsichords are just like organs, in that tone is altered not by how hard or soft you press the keys, but by changing registration. The register itself, which looks like a ladder with the jacks sliding up and down between the rungs, moves only about 2 millimeters away from the strings so the plectra won't reach them." episode#12 &1#3 (both Nov7,2023) "English Double Harpsichords have two sets of jacks plucking the same choir of strings. Configured as an either/or register, the player can pick between the forward 8' that sounds like any other, or the Nasale, whose plucking point is so much closer to the end of the strings' speaking length, the volume is much quieter and the tone more nasal, just like when a guitarist strums closer to the bridge. With 4 rows of jacks and 3 chairs of strings in close quarters though, getting the registers set just right so all the strings, especially in the bass, can sound without buzzing against neighboring jacks takes loads of time and patience. The most important rule to follow, is to make all the appropriate adjustments for both the forward 8' and the Nasale on the very first bass note before you proceed with adding and voicing jacks up the scale on either one. Once the lowest note can be played in all registrations on both manuals, coupled and uncoupled, without any buzzing or unwanted damping, you should be good to go. But test every note as you go to avoid headaches later." episode#15 (Nov7,2023) "I've installed all 63 jacks in the 4' choir after more than a month away, working on pianos. With the Back 8' and the 4' choirs up and running, the lower manual is done! Since this is an English Double though, I'm not 2/3 done like I would be with a Flemish, I'm only half done since the upper manual operates the forward 8' and the Nasale, which I'll restore in parallel, note by note. An observant viewer might see that the blue and red jacks for the first note are already in place. Only 62 notes, and 124 jacks remain. A harpsichord is a larger keyboard instrument where strings are plucked by a mechanism called a "jack," while a spinet is a smaller, more compact version of a harpsichord, and a clavichord is a quieter keyboard instrument that produces sound by striking the strings with a metal tangent, making it more suitable for practice or intimate playing; essentially, all three are early keyboard instruments but differ in their size and sound production mechanism, with the harpsichord being the loudest and the clavichord the softest. Key points about each instrument: • Harpsichord: ◦ Larger, grander design ◦ Strings are plucked by a "jack" mechanism ◦ Can produce a bright, resonant sound • • Spinet: ◦ Smaller, more compact version of a harpsichord ◦ Often has a smaller soundboard and shorter strings ◦ Considered a domestic instrument for home use • • Clavichord: ◦ Produces sound by striking the strings with a metal "tangent" ◦ Much softer sound than a harpsichord, suitable for quiet practice ◦ Considered a personal instrument for composing and practicing Jul 4, 2012 "Building an English Spinet and a Violin in the old way. Master Musical Instrument Maker - George Wilson. Journeymen - Mark Hansen, Larry Bowers, & Curtis Collinsworth."
Izen Ears Posted January 2 Report Posted January 2 On 12/31/2024 at 11:38 PM, mono said: On 2/14/2019 at 9:04 PM, Izen Ears said: Wowee!!! I’d LOVE to see a harpsichord version of that video... Dec 26, 2024 " The harpsichord is a musical instrument that, by combining strings and keys in a precise mechanism, achieves a characteristic sound. In 2000, in La Selva del Camp (Tarragona), Raúl Martín was one of those artisan musicians who, captured by the formal and sonorous beauty of keyboard instruments, dedicated himself to the construction of clavichords, spinets and harpsichords. " Jun 21, 2019 " In 1793, George Washington acquired a large harpsichord for his step-granddaughter, Eleanor "Nelly" Parke Custis. For over two and a half years, John Watson, Conservator of Early Keyboard Instruments, worked to create a replica of Nelly Custis's 1793 Longman & Broderip 2-Manual Harpsichord. Dr. Joyce Lindorff, Professor of Keyboard Studies at Temple University, demonstrates what makes this unique instrument so special." Feb 19, 2018 "For years, the harpsichord at Mount Vernon stood silent, rendered unplayable by age and wear. Its sound, created by a unique design that combined elements of both the classic harpsichord and the newly emerging piano, was lost to time – until now. Through the efforts of harpsichord maker John Watson and the support of Colonial Williamsburg and the curators of Mount Vernon, this piece of musical and American history is being reborn." English Double Harpsichord restoration blog episodes playlist , below (included here is the quoted accompanying descriptor text, when available from the YT page, referencing the particular episode #, posting date.) episode#1 (Sep6, 2023) "Modern pianos have actions that can be traced back to a French builder named Erard. His innovations stretch beyond double escapement action though. He also invented agraffes, the little bolts with holes through which the strings pass. Anyway, the Erard action, though tremendously expressive for pianists, is also ridiculously finicky, requiring enormous amounts of regulation and maintenance to provide the player with all responsive touch expected of a fine instrument. The Hickman action, on the other hand, eliminated most of the squishy felt and leather contact points that wear and compress with use in a conventional action, and therefore requires less than a tenth the maintenance. Most importantly for the builders, the Hickman action requires less than a quarter of the setup time at the factory. Good news for the pianist, maybe not so good news for us technicians. But wait, there's more! A lever on the side of the keyboard allows the player to adjust the touch weight. It's like choose your own adventure for the piano. Sadly, the stock market crash of 1929 happened within months of the Hickman Action's debut, and only a handful of pianos were built, even fewer of which survive." episode#2 (Sep 6, 2023) "Mid-century harpsichords were often built with a combination of old and new technology. Ada pianos evolved into their modern form with every aspect of the action adjustable, many harpsichord builders followed suit. The end result was cumbersome actions that required more maintenance and care than their elders. Thankfully, the trend is back towards more traditional techniques. Anyway, my 1974 Brad Benn English Double Harpsichord came to me with deteriorated jacks, broken and missing plectra and tongues, and the replacement parts I acquired from Brad Benn himself were old, deteriorated, and in some cases, poorly modified. The only way I could be sure of a reliable playing experience was to replace the whole action, and I taught myself CAD to do just that." episode#4 (Sep 6, 2023) "Harpsichord jacks require some accoutrements before they can be installed. The height adjustment screw goes in the bottom, though traditional harpsichords don't have them. I kept them so I wouldn't have to replace the lower register guide through which the screws fit. Up top, the tongue goes in the jack, the plectrum goes through the tongue, and the damper goes into the clip." episode#6 (Sep 6, 2023) "It's shocking how short the distance is between off and on for harpsichord registers. Harpsichords are just like organs, in that tone is altered not by how hard or soft you press the keys, but by changing registration. The register itself, which looks like a ladder with the jacks sliding up and down between the rungs, moves only about 2 millimeters away from the strings so the plectra won't reach them." episode#12 &1#3 (both Nov7,2023) "English Double Harpsichords have two sets of jacks plucking the same choir of strings. Configured as an either/or register, the player can pick between the forward 8' that sounds like any other, or the Nasale, whose plucking point is so much closer to the end of the strings' speaking length, the volume is much quieter and the tone more nasal, just like when a guitarist strums closer to the bridge. With 4 rows of jacks and 3 chairs of strings in close quarters though, getting the registers set just right so all the strings, especially in the bass, can sound without buzzing against neighboring jacks takes loads of time and patience. The most important rule to follow, is to make all the appropriate adjustments for both the forward 8' and the Nasale on the very first bass note before you proceed with adding and voicing jacks up the scale on either one. Once the lowest note can be played in all registrations on both manuals, coupled and uncoupled, without any buzzing or unwanted damping, you should be good to go. But test every note as you go to avoid headaches later." episode#15 (Nov7,2023) "I've installed all 63 jacks in the 4' choir after more than a month away, working on pianos. With the Back 8' and the 4' choirs up and running, the lower manual is done! Since this is an English Double though, I'm not 2/3 done like I would be with a Flemish, I'm only half done since the upper manual operates the forward 8' and the Nasale, which I'll restore in parallel, note by note. An observant viewer might see that the blue and red jacks for the first note are already in place. Only 62 notes, and 124 jacks remain. A harpsichord is a larger keyboard instrument where strings are plucked by a mechanism called a "jack," while a spinet is a smaller, more compact version of a harpsichord, and a clavichord is a quieter keyboard instrument that produces sound by striking the strings with a metal tangent, making it more suitable for practice or intimate playing; essentially, all three are early keyboard instruments but differ in their size and sound production mechanism, with the harpsichord being the loudest and the clavichord the softest. Key points about each instrument: • Harpsichord: ◦ Larger, grander design ◦ Strings are plucked by a "jack" mechanism ◦ Can produce a bright, resonant sound • • Spinet: ◦ Smaller, more compact version of a harpsichord ◦ Often has a smaller soundboard and shorter strings ◦ Considered a domestic instrument for home use • • Clavichord: ◦ Produces sound by striking the strings with a metal "tangent" ◦ Much softer sound than a harpsichord, suitable for quiet practice ◦ Considered a personal instrument for composing and practicing Jul 4, 2012 "Building an English Spinet and a Violin in the old way. Master Musical Instrument Maker - George Wilson. Journeymen - Mark Hansen, Larry Bowers, & Curtis Collinsworth." Whoa! That's a serious Sunday morning session to go through all that! Have you watched all of them? And read all that stuff? Thanks a lot!
mono Posted January 3 Author Report Posted January 3 17 hours ago, Izen Ears said: Whoa! That's a serious Sunday morning session to go through all that! Have you watched all of them? And read all that stuff? Thanks a lot! Hey, Dan I hope that I have covered your question comprehensively enough? (with my 'vast array' of contextually edited, informed, You Tubes. And, some AI text) Too bad that there wasn't "Just one to rule them all." Enjoy your Sunday Session.
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