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Welcome to ‘Friends of Square Pianos’
Latest Updates 27th August
The Stodart (c.1810) is now sold! Picture still on the Sale page.
Piano Auctions
The next of these splendid auctions will be held on Thursday,
11th September, at Conway Hall, London. As usual, an informal
gathering of Friends will take place on the day before, Wednesday 10th,
to give us time for a leisurely viewing and fish & chips at the
pub. All very welcome! The catalogue has just
been published, and there are two square pianos listed, both
by Broadwood, dating from 1807 and 1822. The first of
these is a very unusual 'Art Case'
piano, in a painted satinwood and mahogany case. There will also
be a number of 20th century 'Early Keyboard Instruments',
including
clavichords, spinets, virginals, harpsichords - and even a
clavicytherium. Further details are on the Auction Page, and we hope to
have pictures of the Broadwoods soon.
Pianos and Parts For Sale
This page is proving popular, with a good success rate. The whole
point of the page is not about making money, but to help us to help each other, and to find good
homes for needy pianos.
Two of the pianos mentioned recently - the Early Square (probably Beck) c.1785 and the Broadwood c.1821 were sold within hours of being listed on the page. Both are promised full restoration. The Stodart (c. 1810) found a good home with similar speed.
Many of us have 'projects' in store which we may never complete, and perhaps it is better to let someone else have a go. These are not World Heritage instruments, but they offer a chance to involve more people actively in our community of Friends.
Two of the pianos mentioned recently - the Early Square (probably Beck) c.1785 and the Broadwood c.1821 were sold within hours of being listed on the page. Both are promised full restoration. The Stodart (c. 1810) found a good home with similar speed.
Many of us have 'projects' in store which we may never complete, and perhaps it is better to let someone else have a go. These are not World Heritage instruments, but they offer a chance to involve more people actively in our community of Friends.
Harpsichords, Spinets, and Clavichords
What!
I hear your cry. Well, it's my website, and I have decided
to give them a little corner. Not the magnificent Kirckmans, and
venerable Ruckers, but the more modest 'amateur' instruments.
Many of us have an interest, and the first keyboard instrument I
ever owned was a clavichord I made myself. So, very soon, there
will be details of bits & pieces, and even half-finished
projects, looking for new homes. Some of the promised items, like
first-quality soundboard timber, could even have application to Early
Pianos...
Please e-mail any offers or requests to friends.sp@btinternet.com
Please e-mail any offers or requests to friends.sp@btinternet.com
Bookshelf & Recordings
My personal Favourite Recording - 'Jane Austen Entertains' has been added, and the list re-designed.
************************The page formerly known as 'Clementi Diary' has now been re-named
'Restoration Diaries'.
A new Diary has been added from America, by the well-known expert Tom Strange. This concerns a very interesting Longman and Broderip piano, which can be firmly attributed to J. Geib as its maker. It is dated (internally) 1785 - the year before the famous action patent.
The longer-term plan for this section, as the site fills up, is to make the earlier diaries available on request, by email as (preferably) PDFs. So come on, all you Friends - get those stories ready to share! This site was only ever going to be as good as the contributions that come in.
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FRIENDS OF SQUARE PIANOS
is a sort of on-line club for owners, potential owners, and friends
of - Square Pianos!
We are also happy to welcome
owners of
very old grand pianos – say before about 1840 – as
they do
not seem to have a website of their own. We hope that you
will
find something of interest, and also feel free to contribute
–
please e-mail any questions or contributions
to friends.sp@btinternet.comOur aim is to encourage ownership and enjoyment of these historic instruments, and to help owners to keep them in playing condition. There is a special pleasure in playing (and hearing) music played on the instruments for which it was composed.
The picture above is
a Clementi of about 1814.
The restoration diary (see page 'Restoration Diaries') is now complete, and the distinguished pianist Jeremy
Eskenazi has given the project his approval. It was good to
hear this lovely piano being played properly.
A Debate for 2008
Should Square Pianos be 'Conserved' or 'Restored'? We have all seen Restorations we consider to be unfortunate - or even disastrous - but perhaps we all have different standards? Some of us may consider the use of modern materials justified if it saves an otherwise unusable component, others may feel that it is a mortal sin.
Please add to the debate on the new 'Conserve or Restore?' page. Send in your views - however controversial! E-mail please to the 'friends' address at the top of this page.
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About the 'Webmaster' (David Hackett of Chelveston)
My
only claim to respectability is that Carl Dolmetsch once offered to
take me on as an apprentice. This was in 1962, when I had
just
shown him my first clavichord, and been his guest at Haslemere.
However, he also advised me that it would be better to go to
University, and I accepted his advice. Early Keyboard
Instruments
have therefore remained a hobby, and since leaping at the opportunity
of early retirement, I am able to spend a bit more time
enjoying
them.
My real work now is with cats,
though - I am local Branch Co-ordinator for
Cats Protection.
Cats Protection.