CAUT

  • 1.  How to prepare the piano and will it damage the instrument?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-09-2017 23:16
    Dear Fellow Technicians.  The Charleston Symphony Orchestra is contemplating performing Alfred Schnittke's Concerto Grosso No. 1 for Two Solo Violins next season.  It features a prepared piano as well as other instruments.  I am the caretaker of the symphony's Steinway D.  Will the preparations damage the instrument in any way?  And what exactly are the instructions to prepare the piano for this piece?  I appreciate your wisdom and help in this regard and thank you for your input.

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    Joe Malecki
    Charleston SC
    843-224-7209
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  • 2.  RE: How to prepare the piano and will it damage the instrument?

    Posted 02-10-2017 00:01
    Isn't the internet useful.

    Many links from here.
    Prepared piano - Wikipedia
    Wikipedia remove preview
    Prepared piano - Wikipedia
    In 1922 American Composer Henry Cowell (1897-1965) pioneered a technique he dubbed "string piano", which involved having the pianist reach inside the piano and pluck, sweep, scrape, thump, and otherwise manipulate the strings directly, rather than using the keyboard. He developed these techniques in pieces such as Aeolian Harp (1923) and The Banshee (1925).
    View this on Wikipedia >


    Here's a good video:
    How to Prepare a Piano with Stephen Drury
    YouTube remove preview
    How to Prepare a Piano with Stephen Drury
    Stephen Drury of New England Conservatory's Piano faculty demonstrates the process of piano preparation for John Cage's "Sonatas & Interludes". NEC will be celebrating Cage's centennial in 2012 with a series of concerts. Find out more at necmusic.edu/cage
    View this on YouTube >


    Also, the score most likely has instructions for the particular piece.







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    ChrisChernobieff
    Chernobieff Piano and Harpsichord Mfg.
    Lenoir City TN
    865-986-7720
    chrisppff@gmail.com
    www.facebook.com/ChernobieffPianoandHarpsichordMFG
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  • 3.  RE: How to prepare the piano and will it damage the instrument?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-10-2017 20:48
    Joe:  Ask the symphone director to see the score and see if there are directions for preparing the piano.  I know John Cage gives directions for his prepared piano compositions.

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    Clarence Zeches
    Piano Service Enterprise School of Technology
    Toccoa GA
    706-886-4035
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  • 4.  RE: How to prepare the piano and will it damage the instrument?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-10-2017 21:39
    Joe -
    All of this because they're 'contemplating'?  As suggested, you should be able to get specific information from conductor, or, when more certain, the pianist.  Meanwhile, read the first and listen to the second.  While you're at it, figure out if you should use an alternate temperment.

    Bio of Alfred Schnittke

    Alfred Schnittke - Concerto Grosso No. 1


    There seems to be a score in Columbia SC at the University of SC.  A pleasant outing, I'm sure.


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    David Skolnik
    Hastings-on-Hudson NY
    914-231-7565
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  • 5.  RE: How to prepare the piano and will it damage the instrument?

    Posted 02-11-2017 00:47
    Joe,

    Just one use of a piano for "extended techniques" or "prepared" may not damage the piano (although it gives me the willies), depending on the piece and what kind of torturing is taking place. At SFSU we have a minimum of two uses each academic year. I have 2 pianos that are in decent enough shape (a Baldwin F and a Baldwin R) that I roll into the recital hall, so that any potential damage is limited to these two. They are still good enough to be played in the traditional way, because sometimes a piece requires both non-traditional techniques and traditional techniques.

    The other advice here is good: get acquainted with what will be required of the piano. If it seems like there might be more call for extended techniques in the future, then you should consider designating a non-concert instrument for this purpose.

    One more note: our piano professor here who is a great champion of prepared piano prefers a smaller model, such as a Steinway M or L. The reason is that big pianos often have that diagonal strut (not always, such as a Baldwin F) or that mid-range break on the S&S D (G3/G#3?) which can get in the way of the pianist. I believe some composers (Cowell, possibly Cage) recommend a "living room" sized piano for the purpose. It also depends on what size piano the pianist is used to using.

    So a smaller piano may have to be supplied by default, anyway.

    Margie Williams
    pnotuner@pacbell.net

    "We, the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing." (Unknown)




  • 6.  RE: How to prepare the piano and will it damage the instrument?

    Posted 02-11-2017 08:23
    A few weeks ago I was asked to tune the second piano a quarter tone flat. Fortunately, documentation accompanied the score and only 9 notes across to keyboard needed to be lowered and another 10 place slightly out of tune to varying degrees. That was a whole lot better than fighting with a P22's tension change. 1 hr to prepare/detune, 1 hr to retune.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
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