Piano relics in your home

[pianisten1989]

I don't know if "relics" is the right word, but post all your cool music stuff!

I have a photo of Brahms, with his signature and a "I wish you all the luck with your studies" addressed to my great grandfather.
And I have a grand bluthner from early 1900, which has been played on by Rachmaninov (according to some rumours )

What's yours?

[liszt1022]

I've got nothing quite so old, but I brought a piano key to a Tori Amos book tour and she signed it for me.

[ted]

My Virgil Practice Clavier was made in 1888 if that counts.

[richard black]

Wow, a Clavinova from 1888! 

Lovely-looking bit of kit.

My own relic is a Bechstein from 1889. No stories attached to it, but it's a fine old instrument and it gives me particular pleasure to play Brahms on it - its tone suits Brahms very well - and think that the man himself could, in principle, have played it in his late years.

[pianisten1989]

Whoa! that's old, and cool! Everything counts, as long as it has some sort of anecdote, or is "just" old

How have you managed to have that Virgil to stay so fresh? My bluthner isn't as old as yours, but it has sill got a few beauty-flaws

[ted]

Well, it has actually had quite a bit of work done on it, and is therefore not strictly speaking an antique. It was imported into New Zealand, just before 1900 I think, by my teacher's brother. He was rather eccentric in that he did all his playing on it, saying to people, "I can hear it, why can't you ?" While it is no doubt nice to have the aural equivalent of eidetic recall, I am sure most of us do like to hear the reality when we play. I think he must have been obsessive in his use of it as when he died the black keys were worn down. My teacher, who, as well as having been a musical prodigy was a highly skilled builder and cabinetmaker by trade (in the days before his musical career - spiral staircase specialist apparently) fitted a modern keyboard, tweaked the mechanism and replaced a leg, which had become unstable with borer. He then sold it to me. That was in 1968.

Neither of us could see any point in keeping it in a dilapidated condition just to preserve its antique status, when it could have an amazingly useful life in the cause of piano technique.

[iratior]

I inherited a Sohmer baby grand, solid walnut, 1930.  It really is a treasure, even though some of the ivories are cracked and others chipped off.  And the way it can do Beethoven opus 28...

[pianoplayjl]

My electronic keyboard is 20 years old, if that counts.

[jimbo320]

Keyboards are considered antique after 25 years..

[kookaburra]

my piano was made in 1909, for what that's worth 

[pianoplayjl]

Wow, thats old. My piano is only about 10 years old.

[pianoplayjl]

I started learning a Beethoven sonata movement a few weeks ago. My piano teacher gave me this copy of Beethoven sonatas because he had the new and more detailed, up to date Schirmers edition edited by Bulow. The book  was only one half. It was the Augeners edition. It is very old, browned paper and looking to fall apart, only held together by strings. I feel lucky to have acquired such an ancient looking piano sheet music book. I think it is the 8000th and something Beethoven sonata book being printed.

JL

[pbryld]

I have a 6"6' 1879 Bechstein grand piano. Also loads of old sheet music from 1900-1950. I really like the look of old paper, newer printed music hurts the eyes...

[pianowolfi]

I started learning a Beethoven sonata movement a few weeks ago. My piano teacher gave me this copy of Beethoven sonatas because he had the new and more detailed, up to date Schirmers edition edited by Bulow. The book  was only one half. It was the Augeners edition. It is very old, browned paper and looking to fall apart, only held together by strings. I feel lucky to have acquired such an ancient looking piano sheet music book. I think it is the 8000th and something Beethoven sonata book being printed.

JL

That's wonderful! I have an "inherited" Bülow edition like that, too! I don't know if it's Augeners, but it's also falling apart only held together by strings! I love it! Bülow really has to share a lot about the interpretation of Beethoven's sonatas!

[austinarg]

I have a Boisselot upright piano, but I don't know where to look for info about its age, I think it was made in the 19th century.

[roseamelia]

Piano about 50 years of age.I practice on it, kind of has a few not want to here keys to play and It has beautiful ivory keys. I'm attached to it ;D