[CAUT] Steinway Style II Grand

[Tim Coates]

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Ed,

As one who has worked on both original and "modernized" instruments at=20=

the "National Music Museum" (formerly the Shrine to Music Museum), I=20
agree with your statements wholeheartedly.  John Koster can tell you=20
stories of instruments being donated to the museum that were=20
"modernized".  They are worthless as instruments modern or original. =20
They are neither.  Yes, they are freaks.

The fully restored and functional keyboard instruments at  our museum=20
on the University of South Dakota campus are played by accomplished=20
keyboardists worldwide.  They wouldn't travel here  to play=20
"modernized" instruments from the early ages of the keyboard.

Tim Coates
University of South Dakota
University of Sioux Falls

On Feb 11, 2005, at 8:24 PM, Ed Sutton wrote:

> Steve-
> =A0
> Consider the Metropolitan Museum's Christofori piano.=A0 In the 1930's=20=

> it was "restored." The original soundboard, pinblock and strings were=20=

> replaced and discarded.=A0 The "restoration" has never worked right =
and=20
> the information needed to make it right was lost when the original=20
> parts were thrown out.=A0 So what they have now is really the world's=20=

> oldest piano case.
> =A0
> Putting genuine 2005 Steinway parts in a genuine 1870's Steinway is=20
> like putting a new Ford engine in a model T.=A0 It will not produce a=20=

> modern performance instrument, and will destroy the real, long=20
> term=A0value of the historic instrument.=A0 It will be a freak.
> =A0
> John Koster (formerly with the Boston Museum of Fine Arts Musical=20
> Instrument Collection, now Curator of Keyboard Instruments with the=20
> Shrine to Music Museum) is the sort of person whose opinion you need=20=

> here.
> http://www.usd.edu/smm.=A0 He was very generous in answering my many=20=

> clumsy questions about an instrument a few years ago.
> =A0
> Andrew Willis of the Music Department of UNC Greensboro has given=20
> wonderful performances on 19th century pianos.=A0 He has a knack for=20=

> getting the "logic" of the instrument and showing what it can do that=20=

> modern actions cannot do.=A0 He isn't the only one pushing the =
envelope=20
> of knowedge in performance.
> =A0
> If your customer insists on "improving" the design, at least consider=20=

> the value of documenting and saving everything that is removed from=20
> the instrument.=A0 There is a lot to learn about the technology of =
these=20
> almost modern instruments.=A0 Appropriate strings, such as Pure Sound=20=

> wire, can make a big difference.=A0
>  =A0
> Incidentally, a few months ago a Canadian dealer tried to sell a=20
> similar instrument ("fully restored with genuine Steinway parts") for=20=

> a high price on eBay.=A0 I don't believe there were any bids.
> =A0
> Ed Sutton
> =A0
> ----- Original Message -----
>  From: Stephen Snyder
> To: College and University Technicians
> Sent: 2/10/2005 9:10:12 PM
>  Subject: [CAUT] Steinway Style II Grand
>
>
> Dear Friends,
> =A0
> I have a customer with a Steinway Style II grand.=A0 This was in=20
> production for a couple of years between 1872 and 1873 before the=20
> introduction of the Steinway B.=A0 I hope some of you are familiar =
with=20
> this piano.=A0=A0 This piano appears to be in original condition , but =
is=20
> in need of restoration/ preservation.=A0 I'm looking for feedback on=20=

> whether it would be best to restore the piano -new soundboard,=20
> pinblock,bridge caps action parts.etc. or=A0preserve the =A0the piano=20=

> using as many of the original components as possible?=A0 I realize =
there=20
> will be no clear cut answer, but given the historic/antique nature of=20=

> the instrument your thoughts will be appreciated.
> =A0
> Regards,
> Steve
> =A0
> Stephen Snyder
> Registered Piano Technician
> 342 Scotts Lake Road
> Salem, NY 12865
> 518-854-3888
> =A0
> e-mail: shsnyder@sover.net
> =A0
>
> =A0

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