[CAUT] Appropriate Piano for Small Recital Hall

[Laurence Libin]

Sure, in this instance the choice is a no-brainer, but it's unfortunate our 
schools and halls have so few options, really. Of course I love S&S, but a 
good old Chickering or M&H would be nice for a change, both on the ears and 
the budget.
Laurence

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fred Sturm" <fssturm at unm.edu>
To: <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 9:04 PM
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
>