I broke a string:<-(

[furtwaengler]

https://sviatoslavrichter.blogspot.com/2012/12/personal-memories-i-vi-by-lbaldecchi.html

The following anecdote comes to my mind because it might be interesting for its technical implications: I told him of a concert I had recently attended during which – after the attack of the very first chords of the Brahms Second Piano Concerto – WHAM! the string broke. He put on an all-knowing expression: “Naturally”, he quipped (imitating precisely the gesture of the pianist concerned), “he uses his stiff forearm instead of his body. I’ve never in my life broken a string!!” He followed the statement with one of his typically naïve expressions which signified: “Really, it’s the truth, don’t you believe me?

I could say the same for most of my life. My recollection is something broke, but not a string in a performance of Chopin's 1st Scherzo when I was in my teens. I broke a hammer on an upright practicing Chopin's 2nd Scherzo (how about that?) around the new year 2010. These were both old pianos, not in the best shape. I had never broken a string...

And then now recently I have broken strings on two different pianos. In September 2013, I broke a string messing around with Busoni's concerto...broke it on that orchestral interuption in the midst of the 4th movement cadenza...broke it the night before a concert in which I was accompanying a singer.

Add to that last night/this morning, forcing myself to improvise to the Zoom on the practice room Baldwin, after spending a couple hours learning music. And somewhere a string breaks...Ach!

Am I stiff? Do I have bad technique? I will say it's an interesting pattern...September when I come in for the semester, not having a piano to practice. May, after the school year, when I'm without of piano to practice. In the home I have a broken Clavinova. I perk working at the school, is I have pianos to practice on...but 50 miles away it is. Ach! I hate breaking the string.

Ah well...can't pin point the moment it happens, but here are the three forced improvs in reverse order.

Dave

[perfect_pitch]

In September 2013, I broke a string messing around with Busoni's concerto...

That's easy... just go back in your Delorean and just play a little gentler. That will ensure you don't break it    

Add to that last night/this morning, forcing myself to improvise to the Zoom on the practice room Baldwin, after spending a couple hours learning music. And somewhere a string breaks...Ach!

On a Baldwin... I'd probably bet it was the pianos fault that, the string broke. I wouldn't call Baldwin 'quality' pianos.

What was the piano you were using with the Busoni Concerto? Was it a Grand piano? Brand and Model?

I think the biggest *** problem, and sorry to say this - but if you broke a hammer - that's scary. I've never done that EVER!!! And I owned an old Yamaha LU-101 that was bettered to death.

[quantum]

Dave, I can relate.  Broken many things on pianos.  The old Kawai vertical that was my home piano had something break maybe once every six months.  Treble strings, bass strings, hammer shanks, keys that snapped in half.  It does get very annoying when you are trying to polish music for performance.  My tech said, the piano wasn't really designed to handle the music that was being played on it.  Unfortunately, an upgrade was not financially viable at the time. 


I've just listed to track C, but wished to comment.  Very enjoyable, as always.  Paraphrase of Prelude 28/24 near the end, and some very Scriabin sounding harmonies. 

[furtwaengler]

What was the piano you were using with the Busoni Concerto? Was it a Grand piano? Brand and Model?

Yamaha C7.

I think the biggest *** problem, and sorry to say this - but if you broke a hammer - that's scary. I've never done that EVER!!! And I owned an old Yamaha LU-101 that was bettered to death.

It was fragile. Here's a picture of the aftermath:

[furtwaengler]

Dave, I can relate.  Broken many things on pianos.  The old Kawai vertical that was my home piano had something break maybe once every six months.  Treble strings, bass strings, hammer shanks, keys that snapped in half.  It does get very annoying when you are trying to polish music for performance.  My tech said, the piano wasn't really designed to handle the music that was being played on it.  Unfortunately, an upgrade was not financially viable at the time. 


I've just listed to track C, but wished to comment.  Very enjoyable, as always.  Paraphrase of Prelude 28/24 near the end, and some very Scriabin sounding harmonies. 

I was practicing on this piano again last night, and probably will be tomorrow as well...I'm being a lot more cautious. Op. 28 no. 24 is not a current project, but you are right about the paraphrase. I had heard Ivan Moravec playing this prelude  on one of the old Dubal radio programs which has been put on youtube, and was intrigued by the way he handled the doubled 3rds over against most pianist's approach. A section of 3rds in the improve cued the illusion.