[CAUT] Tone "contrast"; Was - The "new" S&S Hammers.

[Ed Sutton]

For a tempting glimpse of the past, go to 
http://www.nps.gov/archive/edis/edisonia/classical.htm and click on the link 
to the
C# Prelude played by Rachmaninoff in 1919.
This is an acoustic recording! Edison's acoustic technology was very 
advanced.
Edison prefered Steinway pianos for his recording studio, so this is 
probably a Steinway.
Despite the limits of the recording, I believe a wonderfully seductive piano 
can be heard here.
The later Moritz Rosenthal electric recording of two Chopin Etudes is also 
of interest, but perhaps not as delicately colorful as the Rachmaninoff.
Ed Sutton


David Love wrote:
> The Steinway pianos of the 1920's are revered largely because of their 
> tonal
> characteristics, broad dynamic range and expressive color palette.  Since
> most of us weren't there during that time, we can only glean what those
> pianos might have sounded like in their original form by virtue of the
> pianos which have survived in relatively good condition.  Even then, we 
> have
> to accept the changes that have taken place with 80 year old soundboards 
> and
> 80 year old hammers.  Nevertheless, we can come to a few conclusions based
> on certain aspects of the construction and the surviving tonal quality. 
> One
> is that the pianos of that period bear little resemblance to the Steinways
> of today.  The soundboards from that period tend to be somewhat thinner 
> and
> lighter in construction.  The hammers are smaller and lighter.  There is 
> no
> lacquer in the hammers.  They remain soft and resilient yet deliver more
> than ample power in that assembly.
>