A celebration of the piano pianist and author stuart isacoff begins his new book, a natural history of the piano. It is the most complex mechanical device in any home and is capable of fulfilling the players. Timeline of piano reaches 2,500 years in our past to the very creation of and proliferation of first known hammered dulcimers. The instrument, the music, the musiciansfrom mozart to modern jazz and everything in between. By the late 1860s and early 1870s, conventional grand piano models began to appear in the sales catalogs of most manufacturers, but were still dominated by the selection of square. Drops of water sparkling on the tips of leaves, then dripping down. This history takes us back to the pianos humble genesis. Its the only book about these pianos, as far as i know. If you are buying or selling an upright or grand piano, discover the prices of new. When you heard kazune play, it summoned up visible, tangible scenery. History of the piano the harpsichord and clavichord. Manufactured by the straube piano company in its modern, complete factory at hammond, ind. Both of these instruments looked like the piano that exists today.
History of piano reaches 600 years back into our past, but if you look close enough anyone can see that origins of modern piano reaches much further than that. I have a straube chicago upright piano with lots of. If you find our application useful, please support our work with a donation. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. That is fine unless, like me, you were looking for the previous 100 years since the very earliest fortepianos. Christopher anderson max reger 18731916 is perhaps bestknown for his organ music. The artronome player action which is installed only in straube made pianos, was invented, developed and is now manufactured exclusively by the straube company in its own factory.
In 1996, a book author provided 1859 as the founding year. In brief, this is a history of the modern piano after about 1850. In strict compliance with the principles of appraisal practice and code of ethics of the association of online appraisers. The piano features a dark tone finish, a hinged music stand embellished with a simple geometric floral cutout, a hinged keyboard cover, three pedals, tapered legs with banded accents and caster wheels. Its a great time to upgrade your home music studio gear with the largest selection at. Updated and revised by the author to include recent developments, this book will. The piano first known as the pianoforte evolved from the harpsichord around 1700 to 1720, by italian inventor bartolomeo cristofori. Each piano is manufactured with a unique serial number that is recorded for future reference of not only when it was made but also where. This quickly assumed a prominent place in the repertory of german organists due in large measure to the efforts of regeru2019s. We are proud to share our private collection of vintage pianoorgan catalogs, brochures and related ephemera.
The history of the piano by elda dellinger nook book. Over 12,000 piano names are included, some dating back to the early eighteen hundreds. In actuality these old instruments may be worth very little at all. An indispensable resource to buyers and owners of pianos, amateur and professional pianists alike. This list also includes names of old instruments which are no longer in production. It is not usually possibly to trace the history of an individual piano, but we sometimes have more information than the makers themselves, and we may be able to provide a useful crossreference by looking up action and key numbers, frame markings, or historical data. Haines brothers piano company was established in 1851 by napoleon j. Manufactured by the straube piano company in its modern, complete factory at. Straube piano company wikimili, the free encyclopedia. A straube spinet piano and piano bench from the 1950s. Pianist and author stuart isacoff begins his new book, a natural history of the piano.
This book tells you everything, and i mean everything, about the history of the piano. Another advance invented by steinways was the method called over stringing. Professor ehrlich follows its fascinating history from the fortepiano of mozarts time, through the victorians household orchestra and god, to the most sophisticated modern products of the japanesemanufacturers. Piano appraisal service piano appraisal piano values.
Harpsichord manufacturers wanted to make an instrument with a better dynamic response than the harpsichord. This article is a list of piano brand names from all over the world. Many of these piano brand names are stencil pianos, which means that the company which owns the brand name is simply applying the name to a piano manufactured for them by another company, and that the same or very similar pianos are sold. However, in 1911, alfred dolge published an influential reference book, pianos and their makers, that gave 1878 as the founding year. The instrument, the music, the musiciansfrom mozart to modern jazz and everything in between isacoff, stuart on. Acting in the capacity of appraiser, we accurately and expertly appraise vintage and antique pianos. Since there is no used piano price directory or blue book as there is for other.
Those simple instruments proved to be original inspiration to italian musical inventors who managed in the last 600 years to revolutionize the world of. Prior to the civil war, the square grand piano was the piano of choice by american manufacturers. Rudolf straube copyist, composer, bachs pupil born. To celebrate the 300th birthday of everyones fave instrument, author james parakilas has written a book at once awesome and astounding, a stunning cultural history, told in vivid detail and ample anecdotes and stunning color photographs, of the musical and social roles that the piano has played in its long and amazing career.
For more than a century the piano has occupied a dominant place in music and society. The straube piano company 18951937 and its successor straube pianos inc. This guide provides references to serial numbers, dates of manufacture, factory locations, a brief history of many manufacturers and other pertinent information. This instrument is 90% restored including new strings and pins.
The straube piano company was established in 1859, manufacturing pianos for nearly a century. Hi, i have a straube chicago upright piano with lots of engraving and a serial number of 7371. We believe that our work is important for piano owners and lovers. We provide free retail price lists, free age of your piano, free information for all. The nonplayer aspects of a piano are not covered in this book. At the time of bartolomeo cristoforis invention of the piano, the most popular keyboard instruments were the harpsichord and the clavichord. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. Your pianos age is one of the most significant factors in determining your pianos value. Others include the musicians piano atlas, for which i supplied amendments, and an appendix with action and key numbers, although that information has been updated and improved in this page. Like antique books, antique pianos are not worth a lot of money just because they are old. The square piano, with strings parallel to the keys, was the most popular domestic piano until the early19thcentury perfection, in philadelphia, of the upright piano. Books which give number dates are known as piano atlases after the original michels piano atlas, which later became the pierce piano atlas.
Order piano parts and tools from our catalogue catalog. For more than a century the piano occupied a dominant place in music and society. This is the best book i have seen on the piano as an instrument, how it is manufactured, and the history of the piano. Home assorted images from ihs collections straube piano models reference url share.
The major difference between them and a modern day piano is the way their. The instrument, the music, the musicians from mozart to modern jazz and everything in between at a seemingly odd place well in the middle of the story. The history of the piano traces back more than 3 centuries, and chronicles how the piano, most popular instrument in existence, continues to be the premiere instrument as we enter its fourth century. The starr piano company was established in richmond, indiana in 1872. There were a limited number of grand pianos built during the early 19 th century, but they were few and far between. The strings were crossed diagonally close in the center of the soundboard. A winner of the ascap deems taylor award for excellence in writing about music, he is a regular contributor to the wall street journal and other publications. For the first 20 years, they built a nice selection of square grand pianos before building their first upright pianos in 1870. The result is a much enhanced understanding of reger in terms of performance practice and reception history, and a reexamination of straube and, more broadly, of leipzig as a musical centre during this period. A fascinating celebration of the piano, including tales of its masters from mozart and beethoven to oscar peterson and jerry lee lewis, told with the expertise of composer and author of temperament, stuart isacoff. Free piano prices guide new or used fair market value. Here, ehrlich traces the instruments fascinating history from the fortepiano of mozarts time, and the victorians household orchestra and god, to the most sophisticated modern products of the japanese manufacturers.
If you find our application useful, please support our. Discover your pianos age and country of origin with our 5 star accuracy guide to ensure the quality and. What you see here is the result of many years in the piano business searching, collecting and archiving historical information so that we may now share it with you. Rudolf straube copyist, composer, bachs pupil short. Our online museum gallery is continuously being updated. They were a larger manufacturer and built several different brands including straube, hammond, gilmore, and. To link to this object, paste this link in email, im or document. The instrument, the music, the musicians from mozart to modern jazz and everything in between by stuart isacoff isbn. Reliable instruments of excellent musical quality, made by the straube piano co. The piano book is the bible of the piano marketplace. If you are interested in history and facts about one of the worlds most popular musical instrument, you have come to the right place. List of books and articles about piano history online.
The ages and historical records of pianos sold in america. History of piano evolution and development of the piano. Straube piano company 18951937 and its successor straube pianos inc. Piano care and repair table of contents, repair, restore, and tune your piano. My straube player piano plays im looking over a four leaf clover. View our library of professional piano restoration services, online piano museum and collection of rare antique instruments for sale. Light shining down among the trees, wet with morning dew.
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