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For our new members, and those who have not seen it, here is an excellent video on the building of a concert grand:

Note by Note - The Making of Steinway L1037

Enjoy,

I watched this recently. While I'm not Steinway's biggest fan, I give the docu two thumbs up.

It's interesting and I think there was a book written about this same piano, but the movie looks too much like advertising for my tastes. OTOH it's good enough that I sent the link to a friend.

Oh I look forward to seeing this!

I started to watch it and then realized how long it is! Looks good though--I'll finish it later.

The book to which PLU refers is entitled "Piano - The Making of a Steinway Concert Grand," and it is by James Barron. It is an excellent read and has a great deal of history of the trade and the Steinway family. It is a different piano in the book. The one that is followed is K0862.

FYI for those interested - searching Pianoworld for "L1037" returns lots of previous threads about this film.

My technician's feet make a cameo appearance in that film.

Our current bellyman, factory manager, and others that have worked in our facility are in that film.

Hard to believe that was ten years ago.

Time flys when your having fun. Better put your seat belts on.

Your technician's feet play a wonderful roll!

I got a copy of the DVD from my local Steinway dealer a couple of years ago. It's quite well done, though I'd like to have seen more on the finishing stages. I did read the book mentioned above also and goes into more depth than the video does.

There's another wonderful book by Richard Leiberman simply called "Steinway & Sons" that goes into great detail on the history of Steinway as a company and a family. Recommended reading for anyone interested in that sort of thing (which I am). I wish there were similar books/videos on M&H, but all we've got is a segment from an episode of "How It's Made" (which has a residence on my DVR).

Having been in a number of German factories and seen the production of pianos, including concert grands, one is always reminded about the great art and dedication that goes into making these instruments.

Steinway no doubt is one of them but certainly not the only one. In fact many of the work processes seem quite similar with the artisans doing more or less same/similar work.

The most interesting part in manufacturing, at least from my perspective, is seeing experts "tuning" soundboards,i.e sanding soundboards to variable thickness for what one could call perhaps 'tone miximazation'.

This was witnessed in only 2 seperate incidents requiring utmost skill, unlike any other.

Rare breed of bird to find but real neat stuff!

Norbert

Attention: at the end of the film P.L. Aimard (the same of Pianomania) choose a Hamburg for his concert!!

This is my own favourite Steinway documentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMT4rfjeJko

Norbert

Thanks, Norbert.

What is the piece that is being played beginning at 11:35?

There are lots of factors that might contribute to choosing a particular instrument-- the repertoire being played, the type of sound best suited to the music, the hall, or whether it is being selected for solo, chamber or concerto use, as well as what choices were available.

This is totally true and exactly the reason why there is and always has been so many choices on market.

Steinway is unique as it occupies 90% of concert stages so if I were a performing artist I wouldn't run around all over to find a piano in each town more to my own liking.

By same token, there are pianos by others with more similarity to Hamburg Steinway than even their own New York counterpart.

Steinway concert grands are definitely formidable instruments but as is often assumed, hardly ever "same"

P.S. Nothing wrong with that.

Norbert

If you like Note by Note, I think you will really like this documentary on Netflix. I liked this video quite a lot more than Note by Note.

Pianomania: This engaging documentary profiles Stefan Knüpfer, the master tuner for Steinway & Sons, who is tasked with the often-demanding job of pairing world-famous pianists with the right instrument and supervising all aspects of each piano's performance.

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Pianomania/70213641?trkid=2361637

what az_astro says. i liked both documentaries equally, for their different strengths.