| Revision as of 10:35, 26 March 2010 editFanoftheworld (talk | contribs)2,923 edits According to announcement on talk page.← Previous edit | Revision as of 11:50, 26 March 2010 edit undoFanoftheworld (talk | contribs)2,923 editsNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
| The Bösendorfer Imperial features 97 keys; a full eight octaves. This is in contrast to their other models which feature the standard 88 keys. The extra keys, which are all at the bass end of the keyboard (that is, to the left), are colored black so that the pianist can tell them apart from the normal keys of an 88-key piano. They were originally covered with a removable panel to prevent from accidentally playing the extra notes. Currently, however, the additional keys are only distinguished by having the natural keys (those that would normally be white) finished in matte black. A few compositions are specifically written to utilize the extra keys.<ref name="SeattleTimes"/> | The Bösendorfer Imperial features 97 keys; a full eight octaves. This is in contrast to their other models which feature the standard 88 keys. The extra keys, which are all at the bass end of the keyboard (that is, to the left), are colored black so that the pianist can tell them apart from the normal keys of an 88-key piano. They were originally covered with a removable panel to prevent from accidentally playing the extra notes. Currently, however, the additional keys are only distinguished by having the natural keys (those that would normally be white) finished in matte black. A few compositions are specifically written to utilize the extra keys.<ref name="SeattleTimes"/> | ||
| Pianist and ] School of Music director Robin McCabe explains the challenge of adjusting to the extra keys: "One's 'southern sight-lines,' so to speak, can be seriously skewed because of the extra footage in the bass. Ending a piece such as Debussy's 'L'Isle Joyeuse,' for example, with its nose-dive final gesture to the low A of the piano, becomes a bit more problematic when that A is not the lowest note on the piano!" McCabe has recorded four CDs |
Pianist and ] School of Music director Robin McCabe explains the challenge of adjusting to the extra keys: "One's 'southern sight-lines,' so to speak, can be seriously skewed because of the extra footage in the bass. Ending a piece such as Debussy's 'L'Isle Joyeuse,' for example, with its nose-dive final gesture to the low A of the piano, becomes a bit more problematic when that A is ''not'' the lowest note on the piano!" McCabe has recorded four CDs on a Bösendorfer model{{which}}.<ref name="SeattleTimes"/> | ||
| Bösendorfer Imperial Concert Grand pianos, handcrafted in Austria, typically sell for about $175,000.<ref name="SeattleTimes"/> Because of the relative scarcity of Bösendorfer Imperial models, performers will often have the piano shipped with them while on tour. | Bösendorfer Imperial Concert Grand pianos, handcrafted in Austria, typically sell for about $175,000.<ref name="SeattleTimes"/> Because of the relative scarcity of Bösendorfer Imperial models, performers will often have the piano shipped with them while on tour. | ||
Revision as of 11:50, 26 March 2010
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Imperial Bösendorfer" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
The Imperial Bösendorfer is the largest model of pianos that Bösendorfer manufactures at 290 centimeters long, or 9½ feet. The only concert grand piano in the world with 97 keys, it has been described as the ne plus ultra of pianos.
Extra keys
The Bösendorfer Imperial features 97 keys; a full eight octaves. This is in contrast to their other models which feature the standard 88 keys. The extra keys, which are all at the bass end of the keyboard (that is, to the left), are colored black so that the pianist can tell them apart from the normal keys of an 88-key piano. They were originally covered with a removable panel to prevent from accidentally playing the extra notes. Currently, however, the additional keys are only distinguished by having the natural keys (those that would normally be white) finished in matte black. A few compositions are specifically written to utilize the extra keys.
Pianist and University of Washington School of Music director Robin McCabe explains the challenge of adjusting to the extra keys: "One's 'southern sight-lines,' so to speak, can be seriously skewed because of the extra footage in the bass. Ending a piece such as Debussy's 'L'Isle Joyeuse,' for example, with its nose-dive final gesture to the low A of the piano, becomes a bit more problematic when that A is not the lowest note on the piano!" McCabe has recorded four CDs on a Bösendorfer model.
Bösendorfer Imperial Concert Grand pianos, handcrafted in Austria, typically sell for about $175,000. Because of the relative scarcity of Bösendorfer Imperial models, performers will often have the piano shipped with them while on tour.
Notable composers and performers
 | The inclusion or exclusion of items from this list or length of this list is disputed. Please discuss this issue on the talk page. |
- The American composer La Monte Young had an Imperial custom built for his performances of The Well Tuned Piano.
- Carol Rosenberger
- Garrick Ohlsson
- Charlemagne Palestine
References
- George Fox University Music Department (2006). "Bösendorfer Imperial". Retrieved March 11, 2010.
- ^ Melinda Bargreen (March 24, 2002). "Incredible Instruments: Some find Bösendorfer pianos grand indeed". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
- Edward Rothstein (September 15, 1981). "Music: La Monte Young's 'Well To-Tuned Piano". The New York Times. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
- Carol Rosenberger plays Beethoven
- Garrick Ohlsson plays Busoni Piano Concerto
- Alfred Hickling (March 4, 2010). "Charlemagne Palestine – a man who plays the whole building". The Guardian. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
External links
- Bösendorfer piano company official site of the Bösendorfer piano company
- BosendorferImperial.com site dedicated to the Imperial pianos, with complete audio files of songs, images, history, specs