Americanized to steinway and sons, it was the largest piano manufacturer in the world by 1859. The ideal piano at midcentury was the erard grand the piano chosen by thalberg to be described in detail in the crystal palace report and the only one to be presented with a council medal fig. Steinway square grand piano restored antique pianos by. The square piano is a type of piano that has horizontal strings arranged diagonally across the. The making of a steinway concert grand 9780805078787 by barron, james and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at. Since 1853, no name has represented quality and elegance in music like steinway. Theodore steinway, on behalf of the steinway family. A copy of the dec permit will be given to the buyer. Steinways rebuilt steinway upright pianos steinway grand pianos. The making of a steinway concert grand kindle edition by. Prior to that time, the square grand piano was the preferred choice that dominated the american piano market. Many of steinway s famous patents and claims to early fame were because of their square grand pianos.
Steinway baby grand piano from americas flagship now on. This is the story of how the steinway piano came to be the instrument of choice for the worlds greatest pianists. They came into existence in the united states during the 1820s and were the primary piano produced through the 1880s. Fur elise played on 1853 chickering square grand piano. This lot is being offered for sale under a permit issued to the seller by the new york state department of environmental conservation dec. Each time i play my own small grand piano a quality a b chase, close replica of the steinway model s, i think of the efforts that went into it. Andrew lancaster square pianos history of the square piano the square piano. Steinways rebuilt steinway upright pianos steinway grand pianos we are americas largest steinway grand piano rebuilder and steinway retailer.
Some of steinway s most notable art case pianos are the almatadema grand piano from 1887, the 100,000th steinway piano from 1903, the 300,000th steinway piano from 1938, and the sound of harmony from 2008. Like other countries, music is rooted in american history, so it is no wonder that pianos of various makers have found their way into one of the worlds most well known political residences. Steinway square grand pianos, however, are something of an exception. Development of a database from the steinway log books. It boasts a full set of immaculate ivory keys combined with a. They were used by the greatest composers of the 18th century including bach and mozart. Serial numbers for some early production may span more than one year. Schubert played on 1853 chickering square grand piano duration. Aug 30, 2017 1838 sebastian erards contributions to grand piano engineering revolutionized the construction of the grand style of piano. The tapered, octagonal legs can be found on most american square grand pianos and many grand pianos until about 1870. Steinway serial numbers represent the approximate ending serial number for the year of production for new york and hamburg pianos.
Piano history history of steinway pianos restored steinway. The 1863 steinway square piano right is an example of an american square piano prior to ornate carvings in case design that soon followed. Nov 24, 1988 the piano s history, quietly celebrated. We have this 1867 steinway square grand piano under the dome at the main library and it open for people to play. As late as 1868, 80 percent of steinways output was still square pianos. Titanic theme played on a 1870s square grand piano by jonathan mayorov. The making of a steinway concert grand by james barron. Steinways celebrated ironframed, overstrung square grands were more than two.
The history of the piano traces back more than 3 centuries, and chronicles how the piano, most popular instrument in existence, continues to be the premiere instrument as we enter its fourth century. Steinway sr to make that magnificent concert instrument possible. As an aid to those buying a used steinway, i have listed below all models of steinway pianos made in new york city since the firms inception in 1853. Amadeus piano company antique steinway, rare piano collector. Nov 14, 2016 the greatest piano makers without a doubt, the best known piano brand is steinway, also known as steinway and sons. This project is a history of technology study of the early steinway piano from 1853 to 1892. Heinrich steinweg established his piano company in 1853 in new york.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading piano. After nearly a century, the piano company has undergone family and ownership changes. Unfollow square grand piano to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. The almatadema grand piano was designed by sir lawrence almatadema and received great public acclaim when it was exhibited in london. Made in both new york and germany, the steinway o officially replaced the model l grand beginning in 2006. Over the next thirty years, henry and his sons developed the modern piano. At a ceremony on december 10, 1938, this grand piano was presented to president franklin d.
This book is a beautiful volume of pictures and piano history. Our pioneering handcrafted methods are still employed today to ensure our uncompromising standards of quality, in turn ensuring that the steinway remains the peerless instrument of uncompromising expression. Steinway serial numbers represent the approximate ending serial number for the. The making of a steinway concert grand kindle edition by barron, james. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The original steinway pianoforte was a compact square designed for victorian parlors, and. Since this list has never before been published, i have, for the record, given a much more complete list than most piano buyers will ever need. The outlines of the history of this important piano manufacturer are to be found in most stan.
Square piano, 1853 robert nunns and john clark new york city various materials. Its a great time to upgrade your home music studio gear with the largest selection at. Jan 29, 2020 for first time, steinway baby grand piano from the historic ss united states now on public display at steinway hall in new york piano from americas flagship once played by duke ellington and other renowned musicians was recently acquired by ss united states conservancy. The evolution of the modern piano facts, photos and timeline. Steinway ebonized baby grand piano by stair 1646210 bidsquare. The ideal piano at midcentury was the erard grand the piano. Helaine fendelman and joe rosson have written a number of books on antiques. The jack wyatt museum has a more modernstyle mathusek spinet grand designed to resemble a square piano, and the serial number suggests that it was made as late as 1936. It is the most complex mechanical device in any home and is capable of fulfilling the players.
Steinway square grand piano used kennelly keys music. Steinway hall in new york, which opened in 1866, could seat about 2,000. Piano history and piano removal, reminiscing on a steinway. Since 1903, the showpiece grand piano in the white house has been a steinway model d. We have hundreds of rare and antique collector pianos in our facilities and want to bring these hard and sometimes impossible to find pieces and their movements and woods to the market. The model o grand piano was marketed as a miniature grand and is the first steinway grand to exhibit the squaredbottom legs that are now a standard identifying feature of all steinway grands. The making of a steinway concert grand 9780805078787 by barron, james and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Excellently and diligently written, this little book tells the story of one steinway concert grand piano from conception to adolescence.
Steinway pianos have the most storied legacy and history around and are used by an overwhelming majority of concert pianists. To give an idea of the degree of perfection attained at the present day in the construction of the piano, we will describe one of the grand pianos. Unlike yamahas and such, the steinway is an almost handbuilt piano from a company which has never relented in its determination to produce the best. This project includes several interrelated components. The pianos history, quietly celebrated the new york times.
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