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Welcome to ‘Friends of Square Pianos’
Latest Updates 13th November
Very Early 'German' Piano for sale
Jay Mallory is offering this fascinating early 'German' piano for sale on ebay France, as item 140281078076.
The maker and even the date are uncertain, but it is surely early, and it appears to be in 'original' condition (apart from the lid, and possibly the legs?) It has a primitive 'Prellmechanik' (apparently with bare wooden hammers and no dampers).
I am struck by the thought that dating English (London) square pianos is easy - Zumpe made the first one in 1765 or thereabouts. Nothing before that. From then on it was a steady progression - with many dated and documented examples, and few real diversions. But in the states that are now Germany (and Austria) there was much more diversity, many more examples without names or dates, and the simultaneous existence of clavichords, tangent pianos, damperless bare-wooden hammer instruments (like this one) and all sorts of others, single-strung, harp-shaped, and all the rest. Even the prototype for my own Grand (a Lengerer of 1795) now turns out originally to have had bare wooden hammers with a cloth moderator in the 'on' position as default. (My own effort, a true hybrid, has leather-covered hammers.)
Anyway, here it is - a lovely little 'piano'. Anybody fancy making one? It doesn't look too difficult... Or you could even buy the Real Thing.
The maker and even the date are uncertain, but it is surely early, and it appears to be in 'original' condition (apart from the lid, and possibly the legs?) It has a primitive 'Prellmechanik' (apparently with bare wooden hammers and no dampers).
I am struck by the thought that dating English (London) square pianos is easy - Zumpe made the first one in 1765 or thereabouts. Nothing before that. From then on it was a steady progression - with many dated and documented examples, and few real diversions. But in the states that are now Germany (and Austria) there was much more diversity, many more examples without names or dates, and the simultaneous existence of clavichords, tangent pianos, damperless bare-wooden hammer instruments (like this one) and all sorts of others, single-strung, harp-shaped, and all the rest. Even the prototype for my own Grand (a Lengerer of 1795) now turns out originally to have had bare wooden hammers with a cloth moderator in the 'on' position as default. (My own effort, a true hybrid, has leather-covered hammers.)
Anyway, here it is - a lovely little 'piano'. Anybody fancy making one? It doesn't look too difficult... Or you could even buy the Real Thing.
News from the 11th Nov. Auctions
Two interesting Clementi pianos were offered on November 11th
- at Sworders, Sudbury, and
at Woolley & Wallis, Salisbury.
The W&W, possibly the prettier of the two, sold for £1400
(plus premium) against an estimate of £300. Not a bad price
for a provincial auction, but it did seem to be a nice piano, and in
good condition.
The Sworders one, however (top picture) failed to sell against an
estimate of £500. There must have been a reserve, but it
cannot have been more than £500. Possibly this one suffered
because there were two Clementis for sale on the same day?
Interested? If so, give the auctioneers a call on +44
(0)1787 880305.
Free to Good Home!
This is an interesting 1850-ish square by Roughhead of Edinburgh - Please see 'For Sale' page for further details.
New Restoration Diary (Beyer)
There is a new entry on the Restoration Diaries page - the Story of a Beyer. The Clementi Diary
has now been removed, but is still available as a PDF on request. Please email friends.sp@btinternet.com Many thanks to Tom Strange for making the PDF possible.
Bonham's (Knowle)- 6th October
The Buntebart &
Sievers clavichord conversion did not sell*, but it was an attractive
and fasinating instrument nevertheless. We may be sad that it did
not survive as a piano, but at least it has survived, and we have no
way of knowing what was missing already.
As we can see, it has been converted to a clavichord. The work seems to be recent, and was apparently carried out on the Isle of Man. These conversions are not generally well thought of, but I was very pleasantly surprised by this one. The bridge seems to be original, but the soundboard is new, and has been dropped to avoid the need for excessively long tangents. The keyboard has also been replaced, although apparently 'borrowed' from something else. All of this has been well-done, although perhaps the sharps are a bit high. The big, and very pleasant, surprise, was that it played and sounded remarkably well. Without mentioning names, I have seen a good many 'modern' purpose-built clavichords (amateur and professional) which are not as good as this.
It will be reappearing in the next Bonham's sale in January. There aren't many B&S pianos about, and this one is certainly a talking point!
As we can see, it has been converted to a clavichord. The work seems to be recent, and was apparently carried out on the Isle of Man. These conversions are not generally well thought of, but I was very pleasantly surprised by this one. The bridge seems to be original, but the soundboard is new, and has been dropped to avoid the need for excessively long tangents. The keyboard has also been replaced, although apparently 'borrowed' from something else. All of this has been well-done, although perhaps the sharps are a bit high. The big, and very pleasant, surprise, was that it played and sounded remarkably well. Without mentioning names, I have seen a good many 'modern' purpose-built clavichords (amateur and professional) which are not as good as this.
It will be reappearing in the next Bonham's sale in January. There aren't many B&S pianos about, and this one is certainly a talking point!
* the estimate in this sale was £1000; a bid of £700 was not accepted.
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) also found a good home quickly.
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.
Any more offers? Please contact David: friends.sp@btinternet.com
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) also found a good home quickly.
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.
Any more offers? Please contact David: friends.sp@btinternet.com
Bookshelf & Recordings
My personal Favourite Recording - 'Jane Austen Entertains' has been added, and the list re-designed.
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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.