Imperial Bösendorfer (piano)

The Imperial Bösendorfer is the largest model of pianos that Bösendorfer manufactures at 290 centimeters long, or 9½ feet. For 90 years, the only concert grand piano in the world with 97 keys,[1] in 1990 it was joined in this tradition by the instruments of Stuart & Sons, Australia. It has been described as the ne plus ultra of pianos.[2]

Contents

Extra keys

Bösendorfer built the first Imperial in the year 1900, following a suggestion by composer Ferruccio Busoni to build a model with an extended range.[3] Busoni sought to extend the range to accommodate his transcription of the Chaconne from Johann Sebastian Bach's Partita in D minor for solo violin.[4]

The Bösendorfer Imperial features 97 keys; a full eight octaves. This is in contrast to their other models which feature the standard 88 keys, or the Bösendorfer 225 model which has 92 keys, down to F0. 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.[2]

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!"[2]

Bösendorfer Imperial Concert Grand pianos, handcrafted in Austria, typically sell for about $175,000 in the U.S.[2] In 1977, the price was reported to be $35,000;[4] $127,000 in current value. 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

References

  1. ^ George Fox University Music Department (2006). "Bösendorfer Imperial". http://www.georgefox.edu/academics/undergrad/departments/fine_arts/music/piano.html. Retrieved March 11, 2010. 
  2. ^ a b c d Melinda Bargreen (March 24, 2002). "Incredible Instruments: Some find Bösendorfer pianos grand indeed". The Seattle Times. http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20020324&slug=great24. Retrieved March 11, 2010. 
  3. ^ "Model 290 Imperial". Bösendorfer. http://www.boesendorfer.com/en/model-290-imperial.html. Retrieved 26 March 2010. 
  4. ^ a b Stern, Ellen (6 June 1977). "Best Bets". New York Magazine (New York Media) 10 (23): 68. ISSN 0028-7369. http://books.google.com/books?id=QeQCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA68. Retrieved 26 March 2010. 
  5. ^ Edward Rothstein (September 15, 1981). "Music: La Monte Young's 'Well To-Tuned Piano". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1981/09/15/arts/music-la-monte-young-s-well-to-tuned-piano.html. Retrieved March 11, 2010. 
  6. ^ Carol Rosenberger plays Beethoven
  7. ^ Garrick Ohlsson plays Busoni Piano Concerto
  8. ^ Alfred Hickling (March 4, 2010). "Charlemagne Palestine – a man who plays the whole building". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/mar/04/charlemagne-palestine-carillon-bells. Retrieved March 11, 2010. 

External links