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[chopithoven]

Originally posted by Rod:
Because they put it there! I presume because the Graf brand has a connection with Beethoven and this particular instrument is a contemporary model to B's own.

The Graf in the 'pianos page' at this site is Beethoven's, it can be found at the Beethoven Haus museum in Bonn. You will notice the two pianos are clearly different.

I hope at long last you will be satified.

I can't still understand why the piano is there! I will die with this doubt!

[Peter]

Originally posted by chopithoven:
I can't still understand why the piano is there! I will die with this doubt!

You don't have to die in order to find out the solution! The Kunsthistoriches Museum in Vienna has a collection of musical instruments throughout the ages - it has nothing to do directly with Beethoven. The Graf dates from the 1820's and there is also a Walter from the 1790's. Here is the link
http://www.khm.at/staticE/page2125.html

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'Man know thyself'

[Peter]

Originally posted by SR:
Nice new page. One item you might care to change. The 4th string was not a brief failed experiment. A highly respected piano brand, "Bluthner" is still made today in Germany and carry the 4th string. Steve

I have a Bluthner piano so I know you are right!

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'Man know thyself'

[Rod]

Originally posted by Peter:
I have a Bluthner piano so I know you are right!

Just a point about the Graf's quadrupple stringing. As far as I am aware this only occures in the treble register - the bass retaining the triple string. Thus I would be surprised if this would have a significant impact on the tension applied to the frame.

About the issue of B's request for the una corda from Walter. All I could find was that the request was not in fact for a pedal but a stop ('knob'). Not surprising perhaps considering Walter's had no pedals at that time, but perhaps B could have heard of or witnessed such a stop existing on pianos from the central Europe region. Otherwise he must have just had news of the UC pedal existing in France and England.

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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[Rod]

Originally posted by chopithoven:
I can't still understand why the piano is there! I will die with this doubt!

I can't see what is particularly strange about a Viennese antique piano being found in a Viennese art history museum!

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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[SR]

Originally posted by Rod:
Just a point about the Graf's quadrupple stringing. As far as I am aware this only occures in the treble register - the bass retaining the triple string.

True,but not quite. Or at least highly unlikly. I have not seen the Graf, but in modern pianos, the 4th string (or third in most cases) is in the treble only but decrease strings from 3 to 2 to 1 as they move down the scale.


Regards

Steve

[Joy]

Originally posted by Peter:
I have a Bluthner piano so I know you are right!

What model have you got?

[Joy]

Enjoyed both piano sites. Very interesting. Learned a lot of piano history. Thanks!

[Peter]

Originally posted by Joy:
What model have you got?

Model 10 - 5'5 Grand. Described as being ideal for chamber music and the drawing room!

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'Man know thyself'

[Rod]

Originally posted by SR:
True,but not quite. Or at least highly unlikly. I have not seen the Graf, but in modern pianos, the 4th string (or third in most cases) is in the treble only but decrease strings from 3 to 2 to 1 as they move down the scale.

Regards

Steve

I am pretty much certain Beethoven's Graf is triple strung in the bass register.


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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[chopithoven]

Originally posted by Rod:
I can't see what is particularly strange about a Viennese antique piano being found in a Viennese art history museum!

To place Beethoven's picture next to that piano is not ideal. It only confuses the visitor. You see that and inmediately think: This piano belonged to Beethoven. And this is not right! Didn't they have a blank wall in the museum to place this picture aside from the piano? (Please, don't answer to this. It is a pretentious and unnecesary delirium)

[Peter]

Originally posted by chopithoven:
To place Beethoven's picture next to that piano is not ideal. It only confuses the visitor. You see that and inmediately think: This piano belonged to Beethoven. And this is not right! Didn't they have a blank wall in the museum to place this picture aside from the piano? (Please, don't answer to this. It is a pretentious and unnecesary delirium)

Well I'll answer it anyway! They obviously put the picture there as it is a piano from Beethoven's era - it is the sort of instrument he would have known and showing a famous person helps put the thing in context. It obviously makes sense to put a portrait of Beethoven instead of J.S.Bach next to an 1820's Graf!

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'Man know thyself'

[Peter]

There is now an additonal page showing a Walter piano, a copy of a Streicher and Beethoven's string quartet instruments. Thanks to Rod for providing the pics!
www.kingsbarn.freeserve.co.uk/pianos2.html

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'Man know thyself'

[Joy]

Am really enjoying this new site of pianos. The Walter piano of the 1790's is just beautiful. Enjoyed looking at the stringed instruments as well and also the history behind it all. To get to see such great pictures of the instruments of Beethoven and his time has been quite entertaining. Thanks for a great new page!

[Chris]

Did the Walter in that first picture not have any pedals at all? Or are they just not attached or something?