[CAUT] Appropriate Piano for Small Recital Hall

[Paul Milesi, RPT]

Thanks to all who have replied so far.  Additional discussion/input still
welcome, of course.

Fred's insight below, though, is correct.  Basically we are faced with
taking this opportunity to grab the D NOW, or living with the C5 as our only
performance-level piano (perhaps with new HS&Fs as suggested -- we're
considering that, too), for a very long time to come.

As a pianist, my inclination was of course to grab the D, but one or two of
the piano faculty are somewhat reluctant, in part because of the condition
of the D.  But they are not good at visualizing ("aurally" and physical
aesthetics of touch, etc.) the possibilities.  Unfortunately, I find even
most pianists have limited imaginations when it comes to envisioning the
possibilities for a piano.  Myself, I've always had a sense of what might
be, even long before becoming a technician.  Anyway...
-- 
Paul Milesi
Registered Piano Technician (RPT)
Piano Technicians Guild
(202) 667-3136
(202) 246-3136 Cell
E-mail:  paul at pmpiano.com
Website:  http://www.pmpiano.com

Address:
3000 7th Street NE, Apt. 204
Washington, DC 20017-1402


> From: Fred Sturm <fssturm at unm.edu>
> Reply-To: <caut at ptg.org>
> Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:04:32 -0600
> To: <caut at ptg.org>
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Appropriate Piano for Small Recital Hall
> 
> On Mar 24, 2010, at 5:44 PM, Laurence Libin wrote:
> 
>> Plenty of European recital halls do fine with smaller grands, or at
>> least quieter ones than Ds. Tuning aside, how much has 9' preference
>> to do with inferred prestige or (pardon the pun) self-
>> aggrandizement? Maybe European audiences are more sophisticated, or
>> more appreciate intimacy? Not a safe generalization, I know, but
>> still . . . .
> 
> 
> Yes, and they are mostly German pianos, often from the smaller
> manufacturers, and have a considerably different character(s) from our
> 9'. If that is an option, I'd jump on it myself. Similarly, if the
> question were placed in terms of coming up with the appropriate piano
> (wide open choices) for the described hall, I might have a different
> answer. It was, instead, phrased as having a D available as an option,
> with the alternative being more or less letting the D go and living
> with the C-5. And I have no hesitation in saying "Grab the D."
> 
> Fred Sturm
> fssturm at unm.edu
> "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." Twain
> 
>