L1037 and I
Jan. 4th, 2008 09:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariLast night I went to see Note By Note, a documentary about the construction of a Steinway 9' concert grand (L1037), at the MFA. I'd written the program note for the MFA's presentation of the film, so I'd already watched it, but I wanted to see it on the big screen and see the special guests.
It's a good documentary. It really focuses on the instrument and the people who built it and doesn't come off as an advertisement for Steinway as a corporation (Steinway did not provide any financial backing for the film). There is lots of warmly-lit footage of the construction process, most of which is done by hand. There are interviews with the crafstmen who worked on L1037 in which they talk about what they do and what they think about it. And there are interviews with pianists as they choose pianos from the Steinway concert division for their upcoming performances. It's quite fascinating, and does a good job of integrating the idea of the piano as a work of artistry in and of itself and the piano as a vehicle for the artistry of the musicians who play it.
The director, Ben Niles, was there to take questions. But the most important special guest was L1037 itself, transported up from NYC. After the movie, Robert Wyatt gave a brief Gershwin recital, there was a question and answer session, and then the audience was allowed to come up and take a closer look at the piano. No serious playing was allowed, but I did get to look at all the innards and plink around a tiny bit.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
epilimnion did let me hang around until everyone else had left so that I could noodle a bit more. L1037 is a magnificent instrument - truly beautiful sound and an action to die for. An absolute pleasure to play.
And I'm going to get to play it more. Representatives from Steinert and Sons, Boston's Steinway dealer, were also there to take questions - they handled the transportation of the piano and are housing it during its stay in Boston. I chatted to them a bit about piano buying and such and they asked if I wanted to come in and play L1037. I have an appointment at 2pm tomorrow to play it for an hour. By myself, in a private room. I'm very excited. I've got a hot date with a piano.
It's a good documentary. It really focuses on the instrument and the people who built it and doesn't come off as an advertisement for Steinway as a corporation (Steinway did not provide any financial backing for the film). There is lots of warmly-lit footage of the construction process, most of which is done by hand. There are interviews with the crafstmen who worked on L1037 in which they talk about what they do and what they think about it. And there are interviews with pianists as they choose pianos from the Steinway concert division for their upcoming performances. It's quite fascinating, and does a good job of integrating the idea of the piano as a work of artistry in and of itself and the piano as a vehicle for the artistry of the musicians who play it.
The director, Ben Niles, was there to take questions. But the most important special guest was L1037 itself, transported up from NYC. After the movie, Robert Wyatt gave a brief Gershwin recital, there was a question and answer session, and then the audience was allowed to come up and take a closer look at the piano. No serious playing was allowed, but I did get to look at all the innards and plink around a tiny bit.
epilimnion did let me hang around until everyone else had left so that I could noodle a bit more. L1037 is a magnificent instrument - truly beautiful sound and an action to die for. An absolute pleasure to play.And I'm going to get to play it more. Representatives from Steinert and Sons, Boston's Steinway dealer, were also there to take questions - they handled the transportation of the piano and are housing it during its stay in Boston. I chatted to them a bit about piano buying and such and they asked if I wanted to come in and play L1037. I have an appointment at 2pm tomorrow to play it for an hour. By myself, in a private room. I'm very excited. I've got a hot date with a piano.
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Date: 2008-01-05 05:37 am (UTC)