Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > December 2001 > 2001.12.23 > 04Prev  Next


Tuning of Old Square Grand Piano
By Kim Bunker

Hi all, Kim Bunker here from Orange Coast Piano.  I was reading this
morning in this news letter about (A) tuning square grands and also
(B) replacing the tracker bar in the Aeolian Orchestrelle.

(A) The square grand originated in efforts of German builders
(notably Johannes Socher in 1742) to adapt Cristofori's piano-forte
to the traditional rectangular shape of the clavichord.  The high
tension of the shorter strings forced new developments in metal bracing
of the wooden frame increasing tuning stability and making possible
further extensions of the keyboard.  The square piano remained popular
until about 1900.

Now, with this bit of history, let's look at what pitches were used on
a somewhat international scale back then.  First of all, around J. S.
Bach's time (1685-1750) the inventor of the even tempered scale A-413
and later wrote an Opus " The Well Tempered Klavier" which demonstrated
the ease of performing in any key without re-tuning the instrument.
This pitch became standard until 1848 international pitch was raised to
A-435 until the early 1900's when it again was raised to A-440, the
current pitch of today.

Some people now want to raise it again to A-442 because you know we
as humans are evolving and our sense of hearing is becoming more acute.
To find the proper tuning of an antique instrument such as a square
grand you have to first get the proper date that this instrument was
manufactured, i.e., serial number and manufacturer then look it up in
the Piano Atlas or ask your local piano tech.

Generally if this Instrument is standard square grand (meaning popular
named), most that I have seen were built from the 1860's or later.  The
proper pitch would be A-435.  Putting increased tension (tuning) would
destroy this instrument by cracking the bridge and or soundboard.

(B)  The Aeolian Orchestrelle is one of the most beautifully
manufactured automatic musical instruments of its time.  For someone
to bastardize it with a 88-note tracker bar is the most insulting thing
I've ever heard.  This instrument was designed and built for a particular
style of organ music: 46-note, 58-note, 65-note and 116-note Aeolian,
Themodist and Simplex Organ rolls.  88-note rolls were designed for
staccato instruments (the piano).  Why wouldn't they just go buy a
88-note player piano?

To install an 88-note player in an instrument like this would be like
installing a new Toyota engine in a 1937 Bugatti, making a
$3,000,000.00 car worth nothing!

Kim Bunker


(Message sent Mon 24 Dec 2001, 01:25:31 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Grand, Old, Piano, Square, Tuning

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page