Steinway Vertegrand

Sketch from a 1907 advert for the Steinway Vertegrand

The Model K or "Vertegrand" is an upright piano made by Steinway & Sons.

History

The piano was introduced in the 1900s at a cost of $500 USD[1] (approximately US$12,000 in 2013).

A 1910 advert in the New-York Tribune described the piano as "the embodiment of scientific research and musical progress of the Twentieth Century."[2] Gustav Mahler said that he "never imagined that an upright piano could be constructed which would satisfy a musician's requirements in every respect."[3]

The 1905 "Mrs Mills" model owned by Abbey Road Studios

One particular Vertegrand is owned by Abbey Road Studios in London. It was frequently played by Mrs Mills, and as such became known as the "Mrs Mills piano". The 1905 piano was bought by the studios in 1953 for £404 (approximately £10,000 in 2013).[4] Engineer Stuart Eltham had a Steinway technician modify the piano to create an "older" sound; the hammers were treated with lacquer to harden them to emulate the bright sound of a tack piano.[5] The piano is kept slightly de-tuned to further the old-time barroom tone—as all but the lowest keys on the piano have more than one string, subtly detuning one of the strings per key gives a chorus effect.[6][7]

This piano was used by The Beatles in the recording of songs such as "Lady Madonna",[5] "She's a Woman"[5] and "Don't Pass Me By",[8] as well as the middle section of "Rocky Raccoon",[9] the introduction to "With a Little Help from My Friends" and throughout "Penny Lane".[10]

Dhani Harrison—the son of Beatle George Harrison—recorded the soundtrack to the 2013 film Beautiful Creatures at Abbey Road with his band Thenewno2. He and the band were excited about the prospect of using the piano, saying, "If you could see [the] piano's discography, it would put most artists to shame [...] This one piano, this poor little piano, has been on everything. And they just leave her in the corner. She's just sitting there in the corner. So when we got there, we were like, 'Mrs. Mills!'"[11]

References

  1. ↑ "The Goal of Perfection". Country Life in America: 623. October 1907.
  2. ↑ "The Steinway Vertegrand". New-York Tribune. 30 January 1910.
  3. ↑ Roman, Zoltan (1989). Gustav Mahler's American years, 1907–1911: a documentary history. Stuyvesant, NY: Pendragon Press. p. 335. ISBN 0918728738.
  4. ↑ Hemmingsen, Piers A. "Mrs Mills Rocks". Capitol 6000. Capitol Records. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 O'Keefe, Phil. "Keyboards of the Beatles era". Harmony Central. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "Abbey Road Keyboards announced". Propellerhead. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  7. ↑ Vail, Mark. "Guide to Abbey Road Keyboards" (PDF). Kreativ Sounds. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  8. ↑ Fontenot, Robert. "The Beatles Songs: Don't Pass Me By". About. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  9. ↑ Fontenot, Robert. "The Beatles Songs: Rocky Raccoon". About. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  10. ↑ Seale, Jack. "That Week On TV: Let's Have a Party! The Piano Genius of Mrs Mills". Radio Times. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  11. ↑ Holslin, Peter. "Dhani Harrison on Recording at Abbey Road: 'It Didn't Freak Me Out'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 31 August 2014.

External links