[CAUT] to sign or not to sign

[Dennis Johnson]

I always presumed this practice was an honor to be asked.  At least that is
how it goes here. It's something the piano faculty decide to request as a
meaningful gesture of gratiude to a particular guest artist of their
choosing.  Not the other way round. In any case, I wouldn't be included in
the discussion. That's a call for the piano faculty.


dennis.



On Wed, Feb 4, 2009 at 8:22 AM, Richard Brekne <ricb at pianostemmer.no> wrote:

> Outside of the obvious that at some point the plate will start looking like
> spilled black ink rather then a grand plate... I'd say this kind of thing is
> simply bound to have opponents and supporters, with some very strong
> opinions on both sides. Not a biggie really otherwise tho.  Tho I must admit
> that having Luke Skywalker sign seems a bit odd :) Perhaps a middle road
> could be taken... let any future artist who wants to put their John Nehhry
> do so... but dont bring the subject up if they dont.
>
> Cheers
> RicB
>
>
>
>   Our university music department (Wake Forest University in
>   Winston-Salem, North Carolina) just bought a new Steinway D.  This
>   has started an unexpected discussion.  Our old S&SD was bought in
>   1968 for a concert by Authur Rubinstein.  During the last few years,
>   when a concert was given on this piano by a noteworthy pianist, that
>   pianist was asked to sign the plate with a black sharpie.  Among the
>   signatures are Stephen Hough, Ruth Loredo, Alicia de Larrocha,
>   Menachem Pressler,
>   Richard Goode, Philippe Entremont, Arcadi Volodos, and Mark Andre
>   Hamlin.  Some of our students and faculty are thrilled to see those
>   signatures as reminders that the piano they are playing has been
>   played by such great pianists.  Others think it degrades the piano.   The
> discussion is: do we want to continue this practice of plate
>   signing on the new S&S D. Someone asked if it increases or decreases
>   the value of the piano. (Probably not either way.) What are your
>   thoughts on this?
>
>   John D. Chapman
>   Wake Forest University
>   Winston-Salem NC 27109
>
>
>
>
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