Re: What are HICCUPS? (Re: GG: Creaking Chair and Other Extraneous Thingies)

[Kate Clunies-Ross <goldbergs@TALK21.COM>]

Anne Marble wrote:-

> Seriously now, the hiccups are the unusual sounds made by the piano keys.
> The most notable recording hiccup-wise is the Sinfonia recording. The sound
> was the result of damage to the piano (CD 318) from its being dropped
> (gasp!), purpotedly by Steinway employees (*), and/or the adjustments made
> to the piano to try to heal it.

The Sinfonia recording does indeed demonstrate the most notable "hiccups!"
(at times it sounds to me at least - I am no expert - as thought the hammers
are doing a sort of double-strike) but this was recorded in1964 which was, I
believe, a long time before the incident of CD318 being dropped. which was
some time in the early 70s.
Gould had apparently been adjusting the action of CD318 to suit his concept
of the best sound for the baroque repertoire, and it seems this originally
resulted in the hiccuppy effect.  The first attempt at recording the
sinfonias was pretty disastrous. The  Steinway technicians tried to sort out
the problem, not very successfully, and eventually Gould himself managed to
correct the problem well enough to record all thirty tracks in March 1964.
But the odd sounds are still there. I remember finding them very  noticeable
the first time I head them, but now that I am used to the recording, it
doesnt sound too intrusive.
Gould loved CD318. I read somewhere that the closest he ever seen to come to
tears was after it was damaged so badly when the Strinway guys dropped it.

Kate  (with thanks to the Sony CD liner notes!)