Yamaha CF Series of handcrafted concert grand pianos introduced

Yamaha has announced its new CF Series of handcrafted acoustic grand pianos.

The three models, including the full-size (9 foot) CFX concert grand, the CF4 (6′3″) and CF6 (7′), are based on extensive research and development including play testing with some of the world’s top classical performers.

The new CF Series is unique in that many artists got involved with the design,” said Mark Anderson, marketing director for Yamaha’s Keyboard Division. “Most excelled in all music genres, but the focus was on classical performance. The result is an instrument that will appeal to the world.”

“We compared prototypes on stage in large concert halls against the best our competition had to offer in order to evaluate their positive qualities, as well as their limitations. Using this knowledge, we can now offer players incredible artistic possibilities.”

The CFX replaces Yamaha’s acclaimed CFIIIS concert grand piano.

Full specifications and exact launch date are to be confirmed.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Yamaha C7 grand piano accompanies Star Wars: In Concert

The greatest film saga and the greatest film music composed will come together this fall for Star Wars: in Concert, a multi-media touring event that will feature a Yamaha C7 grand piano.

Star Wars: In Concert combines John Williams’ unforgettable music, performed by a live symphony orchestra and chorus, with specially edited footage from all six Star Wars films. Through each musical piece, audiences experience the key themes, characters and story elements of the epic Star Wars saga in a fresh and exciting way.

Live narration by Anthony Daniels, who portrayed C-3PO in all six films, introduces each segment of the two-hour show, guiding audiences on a remarkable journey into the heart of a galaxy far, far away.

In addition to the main event, guests will have access to an exclusive exhibit of Star Wars costumes, props and production work, gathered from the Lucasfilm archives.

The worldwide concert tour begins Oct. 1 in Anaheim, CA at the Honda Center and plans to hit 50 North American cities before embarking on a global jaunt. To purchase tickets and see the full tour schedule, visit www.StarWarsInConcert.com.

Popularity: 7% [?]

31 Brilliant Piano Photographs

Here are thirty-one really cool photos of upright and grand pianos, their innards and their surroundings, arty and close-ups.

Click on any of the photos to go to the original Flickr photostream and to view them in larger sizes — many benefit from being seen in much greater detail, particularly those of the insides of pianos.

Enjoy.

1. Grand Piano by Spojení

I love the perspective and colours on this grand piano. Spojení describes it as a “lousy picture” but I really like it.

2. Grand Piano by Kentfield

Yes, really is made out of LEGO. Ironic that this Grand Piano is in fact a tiny model.

3. Grand Piano by crabchick

Another grand piano’s inside here, again with lovely colouring. I love the patterns formed by the strings and how plush everything looks.

4. Grand Piano by unforth

A lovely ornate 19th grand piano, so decorative.

5. Miro Grand Piano by codepo8

Just love the colours and sense of fun of this Schimmel grand piano. Definitely one for the kids… of all ages.

6. Grand Piano by pajp

OK, it’s a really blurry and grainy shot but I still see something artistic in this piano.

7. Under the Hood by warrenski

Yes, another grand piano’s innards. More subtle colours to the previous photos.

8. The Piano by Arjun01

The interior of a baby grand piano, in black and white. Definitely click through to the full size image as the lines of the hammers and strings is pretty special.

9. Ivories by Jono Rotten

Photo of a weathered piano, dirtied keys, fading and bronzing of the ebony.

10. The Piano’s Been Drinking by Hryck.

A close up of damaged keys, this piano’s not in a happy state at all but it’s definitely artistic even if it would be uncomfortable to play.

11. Torley on Piano – awesomelicious art by Wynter Bracken

Just love the colouring on this art composition.

12. Piano Tombstone by NatalieMaynor

Definitely an original gravestone, this.

13. Piano Keys by mararie

These types of shots are very common, but I love the light falling on these keys and the texturing that comes out from them.

14. Piano by MaltaGirl

Lovely black and white shot of an upright piano.

15. Fats Domino’s Piano, Post Katrina by delgaudm

“In the Cabildo in Jackson SQuare, there is a small room with artifacts that will be included in a Katrina Exhibit. One of the items on display is Fats Domino’s piano. This was a practice piano of his, and is pictured on one of his album covers.”

16. Piano Keys by Gog Llundain

Another close-up of piano keys — F, F# and G — with texturing.

17. Dirty Piano Keys by eflon

Shouldn’t let a piano get into this state, but it’s a great shot nonetheless.

18. Piano Strings by easement

More lovely colours and geometry.

19. Chickering piano by ktylerconk

Close-up of the logo of this Chickering piano.

20. Hammer of Piano by Hoder Slanger

Close-up of a piano hammer mechanism.

21. 2 Remaining Pianos by Luiza

Graffiti on these pianos which have been placed outside. Very interesting shot.

22. Moo Piano by Frostey

Definitely decorated as a cow, this upright piano in the meeting house of Friends Camp, South China, Maine.

23. Piano by t.spang

Another piano in house surroundings, with great reflections coming from the polished body and lovely shadow effects.

24. Piano Keys by isaac bowen

A really clean shot of this keys close-up.

25. 2.16.09: ivory by Team Dalog

I really love the colouring, out of focus photo. “A set of keys that haven’t been tickled in a while, I must say. You can see middle C is a little lower than the rest of ‘em, and the reason for this is that it gets stuck all the damn time.”

26. My Love Affair With the Piano by cristina.m

Piano keys trailing into the distance. Lovely perspective and colouring here. The structure of the foreground keys is great.

27. Abandoned by eflon

This is probably the piano that yielded its dirty piano keys. Definitely abandoned. Great shot though.

28. A better class of busker? (mono) by Mrs Logic

This amazing photo definitely needs a closer look. Wonderful composition, bizarre setting.

29. Hammers and Brass by chelseagirl

Another really cool piano innards shot, golds and oranges.

30. The Pink Octave by active metabolite

Just love how this photo has been composed. Great colour.

31. Chords by sanbeiji

Superb close up of the piano strings.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Myleene Klass creates classical piano version of Daft Punk’s “Aerodynamic”

As part of her endorsement of hair-care product Pantene, classically-trained pianist and TV celebrity Myleene Klass has created her own piano-based interpretation of Daft Punk’s “Aerodynamic”.

View a range of products by Myleene Klass at Amazon.

Imagine the original track but played on a grand piano. In fact, you don’t need to imagine because the track is available on Myleene’s official YouTube channel:

What’s the piano? It’s hard to catch a glimpse, but on a couple of frames it’s possible to see that it’s a Bohemia grand piano.

The Bohemia company was founded in 1993, though it’s possible to trace its history as far back as 1871 to the town of Jihlava, when Josef Bavek, a skilled piano-maker, opened his small workshop and gave work to several local craftsmen who were to become the first of many generations of piano-makers.

In 2007, the company was officially renamed to C. Bechstein Europe, with headquarters in Jihlava, Czech Republic.

And turning to Myleene? Everyone’s entitled to their opinions, but perhaps some of the negative comments on her YouTube videos spring from jealousy, or ignorance, or snobbery based on the fact that she was in a British pop band.

Those who say that she plays “like a beginner” might like to note that she won a scholarship with the Royal Academy of Music, and subsequently graduated. She’s classically trained and has worked as a session musician. All of these prove that she is no beginner, but is in fact a talented pianist. The fact that she’s involved in a range of other activities doesn’t detract from that.

You can find out more about Myleene Klass at her official web site | View a range of products by Myleene Klass at Amazon.

Popularity: 6% [?]

$1.2m jewel-encrusted Kuhn-Bösendorfer grand piano: world’s most expensive?

An amazing fusion between glass art and masterful grand piano construction has created the first limited edition Kuhn-Bösendorfer worth an estimated $1.2 million.

The seven-foot-four-inch black grand piano is inset with over 100,000 hand cut, lead crystal jewels arranged in a glittering array of diamond patterns on the case, lid, legs and fallboard.

It took a year-and-a-half to make and is a “grand collaboration” between L. Bösendorfer Klavierfabrik GmbH of Vienna, Austria and Jon Kuhn, the world’s foremost cold glass sculptor.

“This piano is beyond words,” Kuhn said during the launch event. “It’s breathtaking. We knew it would turn out great, but nothing like this. It’s vibrant. Alive. It’s the first time – ever,” he noted, “that another artist has participated in the creation process, and I most emphatically consider Bösendorfer craftspeople to be artists, true artists. And what a privilege it has been to collaborate with them.”

“Bösendorfer has worked with top artists and designers since the nineteenth century to create uniquely designed, hand-built pianos of unusual visual as well as musical quality,” noted Eric Johnson, the maker’s US operations manager and Eastern regional sales manager. “We’re very pleased with the initial Kuhn-Bösendorfer. And now that we’ve had the pleasure of working so closely with Jon, we’re looking forward with great anticipation to the next one – and the one after that.”

Each instrument will have the owner’s name written on in it gold leaf, embedded deep within the Kuhn-Bösendorfer’s striking crystal fallboard logo.

Kuhn-Bösendorfers are available from $1.2 to $3.5 million, including the flagship 9′6″ Imperial concert grand. Each design will be different.

Check out this video of the grand piano being played by Valentina Lisitsa.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Yamaha debuts new acoustic grand pianos: GC2, GB1K, GC1 [NAMM09]

Despite the advances in digital pianos, not least from Yamaha, there’s still nothing like a real acoustic grand piano.

Yamaha will be showing off three of them at Winter NAMM this year, including the new GC2 and updated GB1K and GC1 grand pianos.

The new 5′8″ GC2 grand piano has the same size, tone and touch of Yamaha’s C2 but is more affordable. It comes in polished ebony and features a simply-styled cabinet, straight leg design, and traditional synthetic key tops.

The 4′11″ GB1K replaces the GB1 and is well-suited to smaller homes. It features a soft-close fallboard and will be available this month.

Finally, the GC1 5′3″ grand piano is of simple style, featuring a new sostenuto pedal and soft-close fallboard.

More information on these pianos will be available once the show opens.

Yamaha

Popularity: 4% [?]

Sponsored Review: Lindeblad Piano Restoration

This is a review of the web site and services of the Lindeblad Piano Restoration company. It should be noted that I have not used their services personally, so my opinion is based upon the professionalism and attention to detail as portrayed on the web site.

The Lindeblad Piano Restoration company has been restoring quality acoustic pianos since 1920, and prides itself on using only the finest materials in order to restore an instrument to its former glory.

The company is wise enough to point out that not all pianos are worthy of restoration, and only the likes of Steinway, Mason & Hamlin, Knabe, Chickering, Baldwin, or Sohmer are likely to be able to withstand restoration.

There’s an excellent video on the site which walks you through the meticulous process of restoring a Mason & Hamlin grand piano. It really does show what’s involved in the labour of love that is restoration.

It takes about three or four months to restore a piano, including transportation times, and a replacement piano can be supplied by the company while another is being restored. Alternatively, new customers can approach Lindeblad to find them a restored piano.

If you’re in the market for a restored piano and are looking for a company that cares about the instrument, Lindeblad may be worth considering.

Popularity: 4% [?]