Duplex Dan: You have been throwing around the word "respect" and "disrespect" in your posts about the Duplex scale in what I consider an inappropriate manner. In the last go-around of this topic, you told me I was disrespectful of CFT Steinway because I did not hold the Duplex in as high a regard as you do. Actually, I have the utmost respect for Mr. Steinway. I think that he nearly single handedly transformed not only the piano, but 19th century music more than any composer of the era. How did he do that? He gave us the "modern" piano, and his accomplishments in this regard have been copied by all other manufacturers since that time. In 1853, when his father and brothers started the Steinway & Sons, pianos of the day were much like Chopin's Pleyels of the early part of the century. They were no where near as powerful, and had far less sustaining capabilities that the modern piano. Only 31 years later when the contemporary Steinway "B" was designed, this transformation had fully taken place. (Unfortunately for us the design innovation of CFT's era came to a screeching halt. For example, that Steinway "B" has not changed since then.) His innovations changed the way music was written for the instrument. No longer were harmonies repeated, or continually arpeggiated to keep the harmonic flow. Chords could now be played that would sustain while other notes were played. Brahms liked the new American Steinway (and also the new Mason & Hamlin that also has that power and sustain lacking in his previous instruments). This changed the way he wrote for the piano. Were it not for CFT's work there would be none of the greatest music by the greatest piano composer, Rachmaninoff. Can you imagine his G-minor prelude on a fortepiano, or the C#-minor? No, Dan, I fear it is you who are diminishing CFT's accomplishments. The Duplex patent was just his 5th of 41 patents held by Steinway & Sons. I know of no historical evidence that he considered the Duplex his crowning achievement. I know of no anecdotal evidence that he wanted to be known as "Duplex Ted". Please believe what you want. Teach what you want. Campaign for what you want, but please don't claim that those of us who are not squarely riding on your particular bandwagon are disrespecting CFT Steinway. dave _____________________________ David M. Porritt dporritt@mail.smu.edu Meadows School of the Arts Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX 75275 _____________________________
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