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Book Review
Feb. 5th, 2011 04:48 pmThe Piano Shop on the Left Bank
by Thad Carhart
This short memoir centers around Carhart's discovery of DesForges Pianos, an atelier in his quartier where pianos are restored and refurbished. Once Carhart gains the proper introduction, he enters into the world of DesForges and a growing friendship with its proprietor and master craftsman, Luc. Carhart also rediscovers his own long-buried passion for pianos and soon selects and purchases a piano from Luc, then begins taking piano lessons. Embedded within the narrative are warm and intelligent reflections on pianos and people's relationships with them.
While most of the historical and factual information about the history and workings of pianos was not new to me, I found that the way Carhart wove these facts into his narrative and related them to his own perspective on and feeling about pianos was really lovely and interesting. I loved the way that Carhart emphasized the individuality of pianos. Each has its own unique character and sound, and even two pianos of the same model and manufacturer can be very different. The pianist gets to know these features intimately, and can even become quite attached to them. One of the things that really resonated with me was Carhart's idea that the particular physicality of the piano affects the way people, especially those who play, relate to it. Other, smaller instruments can be stored in cases, often more or less unobtrusively, and also can be packed up and carried around. The piano, however, is also a piece of furniture. It takes up space, and cannot be tucked or hidden away (at least not easily or simply). It's an instrument that you don't just possess, but live with. It becomes a part of your household.
by Thad Carhart
This short memoir centers around Carhart's discovery of DesForges Pianos, an atelier in his quartier where pianos are restored and refurbished. Once Carhart gains the proper introduction, he enters into the world of DesForges and a growing friendship with its proprietor and master craftsman, Luc. Carhart also rediscovers his own long-buried passion for pianos and soon selects and purchases a piano from Luc, then begins taking piano lessons. Embedded within the narrative are warm and intelligent reflections on pianos and people's relationships with them.
While most of the historical and factual information about the history and workings of pianos was not new to me, I found that the way Carhart wove these facts into his narrative and related them to his own perspective on and feeling about pianos was really lovely and interesting. I loved the way that Carhart emphasized the individuality of pianos. Each has its own unique character and sound, and even two pianos of the same model and manufacturer can be very different. The pianist gets to know these features intimately, and can even become quite attached to them. One of the things that really resonated with me was Carhart's idea that the particular physicality of the piano affects the way people, especially those who play, relate to it. Other, smaller instruments can be stored in cases, often more or less unobtrusively, and also can be packed up and carried around. The piano, however, is also a piece of furniture. It takes up space, and cannot be tucked or hidden away (at least not easily or simply). It's an instrument that you don't just possess, but live with. It becomes a part of your household.
