Fortepianos and Modern Grand Pianos

[Vile Consort]

... The modern instrument is in fact capable of being played very, very quietly indeed

In theory, yes, but I do recall a concert grand hired in for a couple of concerts at St Albans a few years ago being criticised by the (professional) pianists who played it for being impossible to play quietly, even with the lid closed.

[BBMmk2]

BBM. I love Hewitt's Goldberg. I've heard her live (several times) playing Bach, and she casts a most uncanny spell over the audience. Schiff is a pretty neat Bach player too.

I will try her Gldberg then! yes, Andrass Schiff has a great Goldberg recording on Decca, though I am not able to comment on his ECM recordiong

[Tony Halstead]

What an interesting thread.
The knowledge on here is staggering.
The thing is,musical numpty that I am,I just can't listen to fortepianos and harpsichords,it has to be a modern grand piano.
I suppose that's me in the doghouse again!

I recommend that you try to hear some of Ingrid Haebler's recordings with the Eduard Melkus ensemble. The crystal-clear, silvery tone of her Neupert reproduction fortepiano is a constant delight.

[amateur51]

What an interesting thread.
The knowledge on here is staggering.
The thing is,musical numpty that I am,I just can't listen to fortepianos and harpsichords,it has to be a modern grand piano.
I suppose that's me in the doghouse again!

There's never been a better time to be a numpty tho, ER (I am one too)

There's so much to explore on Spotify/Naxos and almost certainly you'll feel your brain being e x p a n d e d if you give them a go

[Stanfordian]

I recall speaking to concert pianist John Lill about fortepianos and modern concert grands. He had never been interested in fortepianos and with regard to playing old music such as Bach on modern pianos rather than using pianos of the period he said "I don't think that Bach would have turned down a modern bathroom".

[vinteuil]

"I don't think that Bach would have turned down a modern bathroom".

I'm sure Bach would also have preferred modern anaesthetic antiseptic surgery and modern sanitation.

But this is irrelevant.

We should be considering what he composed - for the instruments he knew. We cannot know what he might have composed for instruments he didn't know - such as the modern Steinway concert grand.

[Stanfordian]

I'm sure Bach would also have preferred modern anaesthetic antiseptic surgery and modern sanitation.

But this is irrelevant.

We should be considering what he composed - for the instruments he knew. We cannot know what he might have composed for instruments he didn't know - such as the modern Steinway concert grand.

Steady on vinteuil. It was only meant as a light-hearted aside. What I took John Lill to mean was if Bach had been able to play his music, after he had written it, on a much improved instrument such as modern concert grand it would have been extremely hard not to have taken that opportunity.

[vinteuil]

if Bach had been able to play his music, after he had written it, on a much improved instrument such as modern concert grand it would have been extremely hard not to have taken that opportunity.

... " a much improved instrument ".

Therein lies the point in question! The modern grand is different from earlier instruments. Different does not mean better!

Bach might well have enjoyed the possibilities offered by a modern grand. We don't know what he might have composed for it....

[amateur51]

Thoughts from the front line -- Alfred Brendel 's 'Coping with pianos'

http://www.reocities.com/Vienna/2192/essays7.html