Jan 01, 2011 a celebration of the piano pianist and author stuart isacoff begins his new book, a natural history of the piano. The legs would have been replaced in the 60s70s which was fashionable at the time. Bluthner grand pianos are know for having a smooth, light touch especially in the older patent actions models, warm tone and aesthetically pleasing cabinet. Julius bluthner established the bluthner piano factory in 1853.
The bluthner piano has a much clearer tone than the extravagant sound of the bechstein, and the hammers and felts it uses are more compact. This history takes us back to the piano s humble genesis. Bluthner piano pricing guide suggested list prices. Bluthner pianos authorized bluthner piano sales in ny. In 1853, he opened his own workshop in leipzig where he made grand pianos. The jersey theory the eastbourne theory an added mystery. Bluthner piano prices and value upright, grand new, used. The history of the bluthner piano jeffrey shackell piano. The square piano, with strings parallel to the keys, was the most popular domestic piano until the early19thcentury perfection, in philadelphia, of the upright piano. In 1997, the haessler brand name was established by bluthner haessler is a bluthner family name. Bluthner pianos are one of the very best pianos in the world. Bluthner pianos for sale price list new and used all. A piano plays a major role in the daily work of artists and soloists in many areas of the music industry, and a bluthner instrument is the perfect companion for the music professional. The instrument, the music, the musicians from mozart to modern jazz and everything in between at a seemingly odd place well in the middle of the story.
Based out of leipzig, germany, bluthner piano is a german piano company and is included in the category of one of the big four of the piano companies. The real, original key tops are the the natural type in remarkable condition, not the plastic kind. He was very devoted to this brand for a long time, with. Welcome to the bluthner piano centre, we stock a full range of bluthner, haessler, irmler and ronisch pianos in our central london showroom. First place winner of the bluthner piano competition in madrid 2002. Bluthner model 1 concert grand piano cover musical gifts uk. The piano had its harp plate made of aluminum, that saved about 100 kg of weight versus a regular cast iron plate of the same size piano. Thats a fact as a result of the determination and hard work from the founder julius. To celebrate the 300th birthday of everyones fave instrument, author james parakilas has written a book at once awesome and astounding, a stunning cultural history, told in vivid detail and ample anecdotes and stunning color photographs, of the musical and social roles that the piano has played in its long and amazing career. Cander writes that the bluthner in the weight of a piano always. In 1962 when she is 8 years old, katya is gifted the piano by a neighbor in her apartment building in russia. One bluthner piano owned by the abbey road studios in london was even used on some tracks of the beatles let it be album.
It might be noted mind you that carl bechstein, julius bluthner and henry steinway, three of the most influential piano makers in history, all started their businesses two years later, in 1853. This is one of the rarer undernampers as all modern pianos have. By 1990, the bluthner family resumed control and built new facilities just outside leipzig in 1997. Julius bluthner started making pianos in leipzig in november 1853 with three men and his pianos got immediate acclaim in musical circles. A german piano brand bluthner is appreciated by many pianists, composers and piano experts from all around the world. Bluthner semi concert grand piano bluthner piano 1900.
Classic models since 1853, bluthner pianos have been exclusively manufactured in leipzig, germany. In addition to the piano, there are two women who play central roles in the tale. The instrument, the music, the musiciansfrom mozart to modern jazz and everything in between isacoff, stuart on. Its essentially the story of a young russian girl named katya to whom is. Others include the musicians piano atlas, for which i supplied amendments, and an appendix with action and key numbers, although that information has been updated and improved in this page. In the middle of the 19th century, the city of leipzig was one of the cultural centres at the heart of europe equal to paris, london or vienna. With excellent credentials and a small budget, julius bluthner started his pianoforte factory on november 18th, 1852. Nov 20, 2012 this piano is an historic period instrument beautifully restored with the original soundboard. Owned and operated by the bluthner family for more than 160 years and hand made in germany, bluthner pianos rich history, being the piano of choice of many of the great late 19th centuryearly 20th century classical composers modern piano era including debussy, rachmaninoff, prokofiev, shostakovitch, ravel and others. His instruments soon received the highest acclaim for quality at world fairs and exhibitions, becoming the largest piano manufacturer in germany by 1900. That performance was broadcast live by 63 radio stations around the world. Im aware that the style 10 is large for a domestic environment but im hoping to have a performance space soon. Apr 24, 2015 perhaps 90% of bluthners in the uk are overdampers, with poor damping in the mid treble.
A german piano brand bluthner is appreciated by many pianists, composers and piano experts all over the world. The weight of a piano follows the life of a bluthner piano as it changes hands. A cabinetmaker by trade, he learnt to make pianos from several craftsmen, including spangenbur. So this advertisement from a boston symphony orchestra programme dated 1896 is only 43 years after the companies founding. This list does not include the many furniture styles and finishes. The specification was to build an extremely lightweight grand piano for the airship hindenburg. Bluthner piano serial numbers bluthner was established in 1853 in leipzig, germany by julius bluthner. Bluthner is honored to announce our latest artist cooperation with hiroaki takenouchi.
This is a book about the most famous piano maker bluthner you probably never. Thats a fact as a result of the determination and hard work from the founder julius bluthner. A fascinating celebration of the piano, including tales of its masters from mozart and beethoven to oscar peterson and jerry lee lewis, told with the expertise of composer and author of temperament, stuart isacoff. List of books and articles about piano history online. The haessler piano line was engineered by knut, ingbert and christian bluthner. I have been offered a recently refurbished bluthner style 10 grand piano 710 aliquot strung 1906. The english piano maker john broadwood 17321812 was the first to develop the present heavier, more sonorous instrument. Website by faq lexicon books about piano partnership. A novel about the fate of a piano and the dreams it embodies.
By 1851 the piano was essentially what we have today, and this work traces the development of the instrument to that point. During world war ii, the factory was completely decimated and was rebuilt under national control of east germany. Although bluthner came into prominence at the same time as bechstein, the qualities of the instruments contrast greatly. Perhaps 90% of bluthners in the uk are overdampers, with poor damping in the mid treble. Although he died in 1910, his 3 sons took over the company. Prices are given only for the lowestpriced style of each model. We are interested in all top quality bluthner pianos, please email or phone us on 01865 240 634. The pianos are designed, developed and executed in the j. As a young girl in the soviet union in 1962, katya admires her neighbors bluthner piano. He received prizes from the worlds expositions for his new concept of piano. The next topic id like to look at with regards to debussys stay in jersey is the alleged purchase of a bluthner grand piano whilst in on the island. Many musicians pick bluthner as their choice because of the expressive tone of these pianos.
The oneofakind bluthner piano of particular interest was a special lightweight instrument, made for use on the zeppelin lz 129 hindenburg. To this day, the bluthner family of craftsman and entrepreneurs continues to head the bluthner firm and personally oversees the production of each piano bearing their name. Her story follows the life of a bluthner piano as it travels from owner to owner. Julies bluthner created his piano workshop in 1853 with the help of three skilled craftsman.
Bluthner has a rich history and continues to produce top of the line pianos. In 1853 julius bluthner opened the first bluthner piano s. Superb, handmade pianos, every piece individually chosen ensuring that only the most perfect materials are used to make these glorious instruments. Bluthner was established in 1853 by julius bluthner in leipzig, germany after he spent years perfecting his craft. Nov 21, 2018 bluthner artist hiroaki takenouchi bluthner is the pure ideal of the european piano sound. Books which give number dates are known as piano atlases after the original michels piano atlas, which later became the pierce piano atlas. Aug 16, 2016 the tone of the new bluthner upright is quite remarkable, especially for a piano of this size. And so the first bluthner crossed the atlantic ocean in an aircraft where, to the astonishment of the world, it was used for the first piano concert in the air. The bluthner piano factory was established by julius bluthner in leipzig germany in 1853. Since august, 1963, when we imported the first new bl u thner grand piano from leipzig to pasadena, california, it has been the pleasure and mission of our family business to place fine bluthner pianos in homes, colleges and universities, with music lovers, professional musicians, and recording artists. The bluthner tone is highly regarded, beloved of pianists throughout history, arthur rubenstein and john lennon are two well known enthusiasts and it is not hard to understand why.
Call this one an important lesson in the key of life. Home introduction biography jersey, 1904 music links. Bluthner piano history julius bluthner piano making has a long tradition in the german province of saxony, especially in leipzig, where the citizens have always cared about musical culture. Follow a successful company history that, at the same time, is also a family history. Steinway model v vs bluthner style 10 piano street.
This piano is an historic period instrument beautifully restored with the original soundboard. Ekaterina, or katya, falls in love with the bluthner piano bequeathed to her family by a neighbor who lives in their cold warera apartment. Julius bluthner pianofortefabrik gmbh, is a pianomanufacturing company in leipzig, germany. Any such price list would only cause confusion in the marketplace. Bluhtner pianos history is one of a successful company that, at the same time, is also a family history. Chris canders new book, the weight of a piano is simply stunning. It is so amazing to be able to produce this sound, which i always dreamed of as a child. Bluthner pianos are one of the few german piano manufacturers still owned and run by the family. Julius bluthner of leipsic used the conservatory of music to his advantage by informing the world by the students as they went out into the world that the bluthner pianos were such high quality.
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