MUS IC
allow Steinways to be renovated and to expand overall production capacity. Te Steinway story began in
Germany with Henry E Steinway (or Steinweg as he was then) building his first grand piano in Seesen in the Harz mountains in 1836. He emigrated to the US and founded Steinway & Sons in New York in 1853, and aſter success came there he opened the Hamburg factory in 1880, first in Schanzenstrasse then, since 1927, in the present factory. Te current Hamburg location
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produces the full range of classic models, from the baby grand S-155 to the concert grand D-274 (the numbers refer to the length of the pianos in centimetres). Tere are also two upright pianos, K-132 and V-125 (the height in centimetres). Te grand pianos run from €35,300 for the S-155 to €160,000 for the D-274. Steinway also has two less expensive ranges – the Boston and the Essex, the former being built in Japan and the latter in China, costing from €5,630 for an upright Boston through to €25,700 for a Boston grand. Prices may be high, but for pianists
around the world the experience of playing a Steinway is something to be aspired to. Te chances are, if you listen to a piano recording, it’s the inimitable Steinway sound you are hearing. Everyone from Lang Lang to Daniel Barenboim, and, historically, Horowitz to Richter played Steinways.
The chances are, if you listen to a piano recording, it’s the inimitable Steinway sound you are hearing
KEYS TO SUCCESS A number of factors have contributed to Steinway’s status as the most famous piano maker in the world – history, marketing and the sheer quality and consistency of the product. Te company has always made grand pianos, but by concentrating on this type of instrument, it has withstood some of the ups and downs the rest of the industry has faced. Roll back a century and many middle-class families owned an upright piano, while it was part of the furniture in pubs, clubs and churches – entertainment centred around it. As radio then TV grew in popularity, there was a decline in demand. Many companies specialising in the production of uprights closed or merged, but Steinway was focusing on another market, and one which has held true for more than a century – the concert hall and top performers. For recitals the best is needed, and the pianos, though they are remarkably robust, need replacing every few years because of the wear and tear of performance and practice. As one Steinway retires from the stage to the concert halls’ practice
rooms, so new Steinways are purchased. Te price the pianos command is a reflection of the work that goes into them. Although the prices are high, you can find Swiss watches that cost more in the jewellers of Hamburg. Te brand faces the challenge of balancing its illustrious history and heritage with remaining up to date for a new generation for performers, however. Tis is helped through the Steinway artists programme. Although the company doesn’t pay top pianists to play its pianos, it does support them by ensuring
they have access to the best Steinways available and the help of specialist concert technicians (you can hear an interesting story about one of them – Ulrich Gerhartz – in a Radio 4 programme called Te Piano Man, available on the BBC iPlayer).
VERY GRAND PIANOS Despite the length of time they take to make, Steinways generally aren’t built to order, though, of course, a careful eye on previous demand helps determine how many of each model are constructed each year. Tere are bespoke options for those with plenty of money to spare, however. Te 165th anniversary is being celebrated with a limited-edition piano, costing €165,000 and, in addition, there are various finishes and bespoke elements that can be selected. At the other end of the scale are the matt versions of the pianos, made for schools and institutions, which come at a reduced price; evidence that the company is keen for a new generation of talented players to know what it’s like to play a Steinway. It is also a clever business strategy. Yes, Steinway would like private individuals to
be customers, but such is the longevity of the pianos that once someone has bought one they are unlikely to do so again; the pianos will last their owner’s lifetime and beyond. Te company as a whole has manufactured more than 600,000 pianos, all registered in the records, yet finding a second-hand Steinway is difficult, because people tend to hold onto them, handing them down the generations. If they do let one go, it’s oſten to local churches or schools. A visit to the factory and conversation with those who work there soon leads to
technical details that are probably only of interest to real aficionados – the ingenuity of cross-stringing, for instance, the duplex scale, the sostenuto system and laminated bridges. What is really impressive, however, is the final touch, the “voicing” of the piano; different from tuning in that it is the job of the voicers (there are three of them at Hamburg) to ensure the piano, while unique in itself, has a consistent tone and timbre, with harmony among the keys. If you happen to be in the market for a Steinway, you can visit one of its
A polished, black Steinway grand piano
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showrooms (or registered retailers) around the world and choose the size and voice you prefer. Or simply enjoy the distinctive sound from a seat in the auditorium the next time you attend a recital. BT
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