Topic by homerghost

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Topic: More information about the historic pianos?

I've tried to do some sleuthing but couldn't find much more information about the instruments featured in the historic piano packs (Kremsegg, Karsten, KIViR) - I'm wondering if anyone can help?

They're all fun to play around with and their unique character becomes apparent after a few seconds of use, but I'd love to know a bit more of the background and how best to utilise them for particular composers and/or pieces. The KIViR page on this site does a decent job of providing some information regarding composers owning certain instruments, recommending them to friends etc. but I'm rather lost with the Kremsegg and Karsten collections and some of these instruments have a peculiar sound that I just don't know where to begin with.

Thank you!

Reply by Piano85

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Re: More information about the historic pianos?

I couldnt find any information as well, especially since the Kremsegg collection is not at Kremsegg anymore (almost no information on their homepage) and they moved the instruments to Landesmuseum Linz (no information at their homepage too).

Maybe some of the Pianoteq employers has some details which I would love to hear. I use Pianoteq a lot to show students how the piano evolved and more details would certainly help.
There are also some functions the historics should have (like other sustain pedal and the moderator pedal) which I also dont know if they included in the models.

Furthermore, I would love to have more historic pianos, maybe even modeled after a piano of famouse composers or models after replicas from famous pianos. I allready made a topic about that some days ago here https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?id=9019 (but nobody seems to care )

Last edited by Piano85 (13-12-2021 19:39)

Reply by homerghost

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Re: More information about the historic pianos?

Piano85 wrote:

I couldnt find any information as well, especially since the Kremsegg collection is not at Kremsegg anymore (almost no information on their homepage) and they moved the instruments to Landesmuseum Linz (no information at their homepage too).

Maybe some of the Pianoteq employers has some details which I would love to hear. I use Pianoteq a lot to show students how the piano evolved and more details would certainly help.
There are also some functions the historics should have (like other sustain pedal and the moderator pedal) which I also dont know if they included in the models.

Furthermore, I would love to have more historic pianos, maybe even modeled after a piano of famouse composers or models after replicas from famous pianos. I allready made a topic about that some days ago here https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?id=9019 (but nobody seems to care )

I didn't see your post there! I would guess we're perhaps in a minority but I think having a wide range of vintage instruments is one of the things that excites me most about Pianoteq. As beautiful as the music sounds on modern grands I find myself more and more going back to instruments like the C. Graf and using old tunings and temperaments. So much fun!

I would love to have such a resource, a compendium of the first known instruments that pieces were played or composed on, or what would have been the most likely choice at that time.

Didn't realise the Kremsegg collection had been rehomed!

Reply by mprimrose

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Re: More information about the historic pianos?

So much fun!!!

I could not agree more with that sentiment. I don't know where else I am going to get a chance to play a 1600 Virginal, tuned with Agricola's Pythagorean-type Monochord, Musica instrumentalis deudsch (1545) temperament and then play a French Baroque Positive organ with A=392 Hz and Modartt's version of the Pythagorean.

Endless fascination and so much fun!!

Any additional information on the instruments we are playing around with is also of great interest.

Michael

Last edited by mprimrose (14-12-2021 00:39)
Pianoteq 8 Studio plus all Instrument packs; Organteq 2; Debian; Reaper; Carla

Reply by jcitron

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Re: More information about the historic pianos?

I mentioned the Frederick Collection in the other post I just saw. I don't frequent this forum as often as I do others so there's a greater chance of me missing many, so don't feel bad.

Anyway, one of the purposes of the Frederick Collection is to allow us to hear the music of the composer whose music was composed during the time that a particular piano was built. The 1871 Streicher, for example, is within the same series of Streicher pianos that Brahms owned. When playing his music on this particular piano, we can appreciate why he liked Streicher pianos so much with their clear bell-like tone, and crisp bass. Unlike a modern grand piano, this instrument doesn't have all the overtones and mush, and his music doesn't sound at all heavy on it as it does on a modern Steinway.

The same can be said about Beethoven when played on the 1805-1810 Casper Katholnig, which was chosen by Hummel for the Esterhazy estate when he and Beethoven were there. Beethoven may never have played this piano, but it gives us an idea of the kinds of pianos that were available then. There are many other examples including the 1842 Streicher that is similar to the one that Robert Schumann owned, or the Blüthner that Debussy enjoyed in 1907 when this piano was built.

This is the kind of thing I keep in mind when I use my virtual antique pianos. I play Beethoven on the Schoffstoss, or Graf, Schumann on the Streicher, also Brahms too, and Chopin and contemporaries on the Erard and Pleyel.

Last edited by jcitron (14-12-2021 00:38)