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Bookshelf
The British Art Piano and Piano Design - Volume 1
By G. S. Gadd
(The Very Yellow Press 2006 ISBN 978-0-9553264-0-0)
This lovely book gives a completely fresh viewpoint on the early piano, with an emphasis on design,taste, and social history. The scope includes everything from the plainest Zumpes and their derivatives, to the most elaborate pianos ever made. There are many fascinating and diverting historical anecdotes. Sadly, the book is not available for general sale, but copies have been given to a number of main public libraries in the UK and Ireland, including The British Library and public libraries in Westminster, Birmingham, Dublin, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Dundee, Cardiff, Swansea, Newport (Gwent), Belfast, Richmond (Surrey), Twickenham, and Hammersmith. In the USA, New York and Los Angeles have copies. In addition, many of the principal Music Colleges , Galleries, Museums, and Musical Collections throughout the world have copies, but these are not necessarily available for public reference. Please e-mail for details of a collection near you.
By G. S. Gadd
(The Very Yellow Press 2006 ISBN 978-0-9553264-0-0)
This lovely book gives a completely fresh viewpoint on the early piano, with an emphasis on design,taste, and social history. The scope includes everything from the plainest Zumpes and their derivatives, to the most elaborate pianos ever made. There are many fascinating and diverting historical anecdotes. Sadly, the book is not available for general sale, but copies have been given to a number of main public libraries in the UK and Ireland, including The British Library and public libraries in Westminster, Birmingham, Dublin, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Dundee, Cardiff, Swansea, Newport (Gwent), Belfast, Richmond (Surrey), Twickenham, and Hammersmith. In the USA, New York and Los Angeles have copies. In addition, many of the principal Music Colleges , Galleries, Museums, and Musical Collections throughout the world have copies, but these are not necessarily available for public reference. Please e-mail for details of a collection near you.
Makers of the Piano 1700 - 1820 and Makers of the Piano Volume 2 1820 - 1860
By Martha Novak Clinkscale
(Oxford University Press 1993 ISBN 0-19-816323-1 and 1999 ISBN 0-19-8166257)
These two splendid books are the first I look at to see how a 'new discovery' (for me) fits into the story, or to see if anything is known about the work of an unfamilar maker. They represent the publication of the first part of the extensive database which Martha (together with John Watson) are compiling. We all have an opportunity - even a duty - to make this as comprehensive as possible; see the page 'Register your Piano' on this website. These specialist books are not cheap, but are truly fascinating. Grouped by makers, each piano is described with data including last known location, and serial numbers where possible.
By Martha Novak Clinkscale
(Oxford University Press 1993 ISBN 0-19-816323-1 and 1999 ISBN 0-19-8166257)
These two splendid books are the first I look at to see how a 'new discovery' (for me) fits into the story, or to see if anything is known about the work of an unfamilar maker. They represent the publication of the first part of the extensive database which Martha (together with John Watson) are compiling. We all have an opportunity - even a duty - to make this as comprehensive as possible; see the page 'Register your Piano' on this website. These specialist books are not cheap, but are truly fascinating. Grouped by makers, each piano is described with data including last known location, and serial numbers where possible.
Two excellent books by Michael Cole are a 'Must Have' for any square piano enthusiast:
'The Pianoforte in the Classical Era'. (Oxford University Press 1998, ISBN 0-19-816634-6) This is a technically-based book about Early Pianos of all kinds, with plenty of invaluable data about our favourite squares. Available from OUP via their 'Print on Demand' system, which means a delay of anything up to eight weeks. Well worth the wait!
'Broadwood Square Pianos'. (Tatchley Books, 2005, ISBN 0-9551777-0-7) The title says it all - what more could you ask? Available directly from the Author at Tatchley Press, 334 Prestbury Road, Cheltenham GL52 3DD. Immediate despatch for £40 UK postage included.
Michael also has a few copies of 'The Square Piano in Rural Pennsylvania', available from the same address for £5 UK postage included. I can thoroughly recommend this - is was written to accompany an exhibition in Bethelehem Pennsylvania, in November 2000. Included in its 46 pages are colour photographs of some refreshingly 'different' square pianos from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth ceturies.
Recordings'The Pianoforte in the Classical Era'. (Oxford University Press 1998, ISBN 0-19-816634-6) This is a technically-based book about Early Pianos of all kinds, with plenty of invaluable data about our favourite squares. Available from OUP via their 'Print on Demand' system, which means a delay of anything up to eight weeks. Well worth the wait!
'Broadwood Square Pianos'. (Tatchley Books, 2005, ISBN 0-9551777-0-7) The title says it all - what more could you ask? Available directly from the Author at Tatchley Press, 334 Prestbury Road, Cheltenham GL52 3DD. Immediate despatch for £40 UK postage included.
Michael also has a few copies of 'The Square Piano in Rural Pennsylvania', available from the same address for £5 UK postage included. I can thoroughly recommend this - is was written to accompany an exhibition in Bethelehem Pennsylvania, in November 2000. Included in its 46 pages are colour photographs of some refreshingly 'different' square pianos from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth ceturies.
There
are of course many recordings of music played on Early Pianos, but the
majority of these feature Grands, either original or replicas.
This section of the site will feature a few of my own personal favourites.
The selection makes no attempt to be a complete listing, but there is some effort to include a range square pianos, from the earliest to the later models. Please note that some of the recordings may not be available as new copies. As with everything else on this website, suggstions for inclusion are welcome - if you have a favourite recording, please share it with 'Friends'.
My favourite 'Desert Island Disc' has to be the charming record "Jane Austen Entertains" on The Gift of Music CCL CDG1187. www.thegiftofmusic.com This album consists of pieces for piano alone, some with the lovely voice of Sara Stow, and some with Jenny Thomas on German Flute. Martin Souter plays the piano. These are small-scale pieces in a domestic setting, recorded in Jane Austen's home in Chawton, Hampshire.
A further attraction for me is that the piano is a Clementi just like mine - and happily, it sounds just the same! Highly recommended.
Joanna Leach has made a splendid collection of recordings on discs for Divine Art Limited www.divine-art.com 'Three Square' and 'Four Square' feature pianos by Longman & Briderip, 1787; Broadwood, 1789; Broadwood, 1823, Stodart, 1823; and D'Almaine, 1835. 'A Century of Domestic Keyboards adds a Clementi of 1832, as well as a Thomas Barton spinet.
Three from Finchcocks: 'Consolations', FPCD001, Finchcocks Amon Ra CD-SAR 6, and 'Company of Pianos' CD with book of the same name, feature a range of pianos in the collection, including Zumpe & Buntebart 1769, Adam Beyer 1777, Crang Hancock Transverse Grand 1779 (yes, I know it's not exacly 'square') Broadwood 1795, Broadwood 1801, Anton Walter c.1800, Stodart 1807, and Clementi, 1820.
A Clementi of 1832 (One of the very last under Clementi's name!) features on Athene ATH CD4 (Sonatas by Clementi, played by Peter Katin).
The selection makes no attempt to be a complete listing, but there is some effort to include a range square pianos, from the earliest to the later models. Please note that some of the recordings may not be available as new copies. As with everything else on this website, suggstions for inclusion are welcome - if you have a favourite recording, please share it with 'Friends'.
My favourite 'Desert Island Disc' has to be the charming record "Jane Austen Entertains" on The Gift of Music CCL CDG1187. www.thegiftofmusic.com This album consists of pieces for piano alone, some with the lovely voice of Sara Stow, and some with Jenny Thomas on German Flute. Martin Souter plays the piano. These are small-scale pieces in a domestic setting, recorded in Jane Austen's home in Chawton, Hampshire.
A further attraction for me is that the piano is a Clementi just like mine - and happily, it sounds just the same! Highly recommended.
Joanna Leach has made a splendid collection of recordings on discs for Divine Art Limited www.divine-art.com 'Three Square' and 'Four Square' feature pianos by Longman & Briderip, 1787; Broadwood, 1789; Broadwood, 1823, Stodart, 1823; and D'Almaine, 1835. 'A Century of Domestic Keyboards adds a Clementi of 1832, as well as a Thomas Barton spinet.
Three from Finchcocks: 'Consolations', FPCD001, Finchcocks Amon Ra CD-SAR 6, and 'Company of Pianos' CD with book of the same name, feature a range of pianos in the collection, including Zumpe & Buntebart 1769, Adam Beyer 1777, Crang Hancock Transverse Grand 1779 (yes, I know it's not exacly 'square') Broadwood 1795, Broadwood 1801, Anton Walter c.1800, Stodart 1807, and Clementi, 1820.
A Clementi of 1832 (One of the very last under Clementi's name!) features on Athene ATH CD4 (Sonatas by Clementi, played by Peter Katin).