1903 Bechstein Grand Piano

pianoexpert wrote:

The spirituality that seems so far away and difficult to practice is present in Music. In all Music. When we perform a composition that has entered deep within us, we become a filter for divine messages. A sort of dematerialization of the body occurs. The proof is that when we have finished, we do not remember much of our physicality. Instead, during performance, especially in public, we have had a sort of truly spiritual experience far from the body. It almost feels like going to look "elsewhere" for those messages that music suggests to us, which we manage to understand, interpret, and set aside in a secret place, accessible only to us. Everything is magical. Materiality no longer exists. It has happened to me many times, in concert, to feel, even amidst concentration, accompanied "on a stroll" and to breathe a fresh and light air. Absence of weight and great lightness of color and lines.

It sounds strange and poetic, but, even while being conscious and focused on the composition to be performed, one feels far from reality.

I really enjoyed watching these videos and I believe that India and its Culture can suggest interesting paths to us.

Thank you

We could define music as an "altered natural state of consciousness," in the sense that through it, both the listener and the performer can reach sublime levels of consciousness, like taking a glance into Paradise, or Nirvana, to be understood. Music is a channel between this and other dimensions, or higher worlds. The musician, particularly the "composer," are antennas that capture from those dimensions the music that God created to put us in contact with Him, in a direct way, without the hypocrisy of words: if we speak of God in these terms I am able to "understand" Him and accept Him, otherwise I cannot. I adore India for its indecipherable particularity that makes you feel one with the Infinite: treading on that land, breathing that air, produces the same effects that music produces. God is great, but so are we, if we know how to relax and listen. Jesus, moreover, says in the Bible: "Blessed are those who have eyes to see and ears to hear." Well, in India there are many such people, but also among us, in the materialistic West.

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Hi, I am Giuseppe (a friend of Francesco) and I have always accompanied him in playing this magnificent Bechstein. Since I often play a Steinbach brand upright piano, I must say that the sound of the latter is more synthetic and less harmonic. The keyboard is also decidedly different, both in terms of material (resin) and softness and agility. I was also surprised by the restoration of the Bechstein. Meanwhile, I must add that some of its exterior parts were mixed up, and it has not been completed. First of all, the piano cover needs to be restored and also the pedalboard which needs to be adjusted. The sound produced seems very good to me, completely different from any upright piano 😆 .

Hello everyone!!!

Just a heads up: possible news coming regarding this splendid piano arriving in September!!! (And it's not a supermarket promotion 🙂😆 ). Perhaps the restoration has continued? Updates on its situation are coming.

Wow.... I believe that at the end of your studies at that school, they will let you take that piano home. It is practically alive thanks to you 😆

Well, let's not exaggerate... 😆😉 ... I didn't pay for the restoration, (but neither did the school...)... Anyway, I will update you on its condition... in particular, with Paolo before the holidays, I was observing the "little flaws" of the repetition lever (or rather... the riser 🙂 )... I had the feeling that it clicked too late, and thus the second stroke (the repeated one) wasn't quite perfect... in the high notes, it is almost imperceptible! It seems as if there is no repetition lever at all...

Oh well, I'll update you as soon as I have the chance to see it again, perhaps with my friend Giuseppe, who is also a member of the Forum. Bye!

Hi!

While waiting for the possibility to post photos of this Bechstein, I am posting the website where there is a photo, even if it's not exactly the best...

it is this one.

That's all for now. Let's wait a bit longer and finally I will post better photos.

PS in the photo from the link, the piano is pictured about twenty years ago, therefore before the current restoration. Someone who doesn't know its history would say that with the current restoration it has gotten worse... 😆

Hello everyone!

As you know, I had been waiting for a long time for the restoration of "my" beloved Bechstein grand piano to be completed. Well, on Friday my professor gave me the great news. So on Monday I went (... 😉🙂) to the theater, praying that the restoration had indeed been completed, and I "found" my "old" friend. In splendid condition. 🙂

In short:

- Splendid, expressive and "silvery" sound, but not too "aggressive" (and tuned strings 😆);

- Action completely overhauled, light, fast and controllable;

- Soundboard cleaned;

- Bridge steady and not "hissing".

Unfortunately I couldn't make a recording (which I will do shortly anyway), but for now I can leave you some photos.

http://twitter.com/#!/FrankDiParigi/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com%2FOk3xghBz

http://twitter.com/#!/FrankDiParigi/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com%2Ffb0Mpx22

http://twitter.com/#!/FrankDiParigi/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com%2FsDhUZ24P

http://twitter.com/#!/FrankDiParigi/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com%2Fmst7r5K3

http://twitter.com/#!/FrankDiParigi/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com%2FRKeOlNOZ

http://twitter.com/#!/FrankDiParigi/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com%2Fq07riAvh

http://twitter.com/#!/FrankDiParigi/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com%2F6LALdCnt

http://twitter.com/#!/FrankDiParigi/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com%2FzVe6w2P8

http://twitter.com/#!/FrankDiParigi/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com%2FteTNhwnE

http://twitter.com/#!/FrankDiParigi/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com%2FkHMtg1Q1

... I know they aren't exactly the best photos, but it was a bit difficult to keep talking to you about something you have never seen 🙂.

... If you have any thoughts or questions... I am here.

See you soon.

Bye!🙂

ps @Simone... You know when I was asking you how to upload photos?... Eh... I know, Twitter isn't exactly made for this... but better than nothing... 😉

It seems very beautiful to me. It also seems well restored. Perhaps the strings haven't been changed? Certainly not the bass ones. Anyway, it is an instrument that one becomes attached to!!! And I know that you feel it as almost your own. Play it for me too

A big hello

Paolo

Oh yes. I have truly grown fond of this piano and even more so of the moments it has given me... Especially this Monday... 🙂

Anyway yes, I am happy with the restoration. Regarding the strings, it is exactly like that; only the one that looks much lighter was replaced because the original one was "frayed". All the others are original, from 1903, as is the action. It is an indescribable emotion to play on this piano... it is indescribable how I felt during that hour and a half or so on Monday. 🙂

I will tell you something else shortly, but I am always here for questions.

See you soon! Bye! 🙂

It's great for the piano and just as good for photos! Go ahead, have fun after the long wait!

Hi everyone...

Well, I told you that for now I wouldn't be able to let you listen to the sound...

To tell the truth, I made a video, but it's not exactly ideal for being able to appreciate a sound like this... You can hear it... but it's not the best.

Sorry if I only played two chords "just thrown there," but I made the video by myself... and so one hand was busy playing, the other filming. 🙂

Anyway, I promise to get you a better recording as soon as possible.

Hi! 🙂

ps... I know, the video is really... I'll make a better one... 😉

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Well, it could have been done much better. Aside from the tuning issues, you can hear that the strings and hammers, in their antiquity, compromise the sound. Furthermore, at least I would have attempted to tap the ankles a bit to make it hold better. Then I would have done a regulation, which, even on old hammers that are no longer elastic, would have helped the hammer mechanism regain some energy. In any case, it is an important historical instrument. One must be careful, in case of replacing the hammers, that they are identical in shape and weight. As well as the rollers and the rods. Enjoy!!!! Bye

pianoexpert wrote:

Well, it could have really been done better. Aside from the tuning issues, you can hear that the strings and hammers, in their antiquity, compromise the sound. Furthermore, I would have at least attempted to beat the knuckles a bit to make them hold better. Then I would have done a regulation, which, even on old hammers that are no longer elastic, would have helped the hammer mechanism regain some energy. Anyway, it is an important historical instrument. One must be careful, in case of replacing the hammers, that they are identical in shape and weight. As well as the rollers and the rods. Enjoy!!!! Bye

Maybe it's true... But it's not that bad. Of course, if you had restored it, Paolo, it would certainly have been something else... 😉🙂.

Going to play this piano every time is a diplomatic and bureaucratic battle, in the sense that all those authorizations are needed, to "relieve the school of all civil and criminal liability" etc. etc... 😐...

I don't know when I will be able to play there again... Anyway, on Monday I truly had a splendid hour and a half. 🙂 I am very happy...

I will keep you informed.

Bye!

Obviously you couldn't create a masterpiece on your own... if you want, one day let's go together so you can play and I'll film...(if they let us in...(addressed to FrancescoDiParigi))

That piano, despite the poor (to say the least, terrible) restoration, still gives a 'thrill', as if it were still new; in fact, it is new even though more than a century has passed. I can say, given my experience with Bechstein pianos, that they are excellent pianos... but anyway, the most surprising thing about this piano is how it has been preserved all these years (I am also referring to the sound).

You bet! Excellent pianos, I'm talking about concert grands...

Giusantsot wrote:

That piano, despite the poor (to say the least, terrible) restoration, still gives a certain ''thrill'', as if it were still new; in fact, it is new even though more than a century has passed. I can say, given my experience with Bechstein pianos, that they are excellent pianos... but the most surprising thing about this piano is how it has been preserved all these years (I am also referring to the sound).

No no, wait Giuse... Look, some time ago (Monday, November 28th, I remember it as if it were yesterday...) I was there, it is not in the same condition as last year... Perhaps the tuning was still a bit like that; I remember talking about it with Paolo, maybe the pins would have held a bit better if they had been hammered a bit more... (Paolo, tell me if I'm wrong 😉). On the other hand, on January 27th (I saw it just in passing, I played three notes), the restoration of the case was also almost finished... Imagine the sound, combined with that splendid glossy black... 😛

Ah ok, so we need to update each other on this piano and its restoration... 😃

I said to tap the tuning pins, perhaps because tuning stability was discussed. In any case, one must always see if there is room to do it and if a good result is obtained (a sample of two or three pins is taken). Anyway, it's a shame it's in Turin... otherwise I would have been curious to see it. I only feel sorry for the work that could have been kept and attempted to be restored. Then I don't remember if the hammer rail was replaced.... It is certain that such an old piano should have new strings. With a check of the soundboard tension and new strings and tuning pins, it could make a great leap forward. Then a look at the type of action. To see if it is a direct action (that is, if the key is connected to the capstan with a joint). The state of the repetitions, the hammers, etc.... So let's start reasoning....

pianoexpert wrote:

I said to tighten the tuning pins, perhaps because we were talking about tuning stability. In any case, one must always see if there is room to do it and if a good result is obtained (a sample of two or three pins is taken). Anyway, it's a shame it's in Turin... otherwise I would have been curious to see it. I only feel sorry for the work that could have been kept and attempted to be restored. Then I don't remember if the action was replaced.... It is certain that such an old piano should have new strings. With a check of the soundboard tension and new strings and tuning pins, it could make a great leap forward. Then a look at the type of action. See if it is an upright action (that is, if the key is connected to the lever with a joint). The state of the repetitions, the hammers, etc.... So let's start reasoning....

Wait Paolo, I forgot the good news then... When I saw it on January 27th... the keyboard was in ivory!!! I believe that the previous one had been put there temporarily, also because anyway the piano has been restored to be played (now I don't actually know how many pianists will play it...)

As soon as I have another opportunity, I will let you know.

Ah, right... Paolo, if you happen to pass through Turin, don't forget to let me know. I would be very pleased to meet you "in person", and then at least I could show you this famous Bechstein... 🙂