Re: [F_minor] THAT OLD BLACK (and white) MAGIC: The Piano

[Brad Lehman <bpl@umich.edu>]

> "Some Thoughts On The Performance of Bach's Keyboard Music"
>    by Albert Alan Owen (copyright)
(...)
> TOCO : If the harpsichord is such a great instrument, why did they bother
> inventing the piano?
>
> The piano is a superior instument, in every way, to its anaemic, rattly,
> predecessors. It is a miracle of technology, a magic box: A percussion instrument
> that can (subjectively) sing! Its range of possible sounds are infinite.
> Its responsiveness to touch, unrivalled by any other keyboard instrument.
>
> To deny oneself the opportunity of playing Bach's music on a modern piano
> is, quite simply, perverse! (copyright)

"They" bothered inventing the piano to play in large halls.

I like listening to and playing the piano, but my principal instrument 
is harpsichord.  I'm giving a complete recital on one next Tuesday.  It 
sings, too, and has a spectacularly expressive range when played well.

The modern piano's not "superior", just a substantially different 
instrument with its own techniques.  Anybody who thinks harpsichords are 
merely "anaemic" and "rattly" obviously doesn't specialize in playing 
them.  :)

Shameless plug for my harpsichord CD:
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bpl/larips/cd1003.html

As for responsiveness to touch, clavichords are even more 
touch-sensitive than pianos.  The motions are so small that the 
instrument demands COMPLETE preparation and poise...while it still has a 
huge dynamic range.  The dynamic range just happens to be a lot quieter 
than the piano's.  And it does vibrato.


Brad Lehman
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