Long live the piano: why synths will never replace it

Ray Orrock reflects upon the words of pianist Peter Nero who said that the piano may be ‘on the way out’.

Whilst synths and even digital pianos are less expensive, there’s nothing to wholly match the sound, style, grandeur and allure of a real acoustic grand or upright piano.

Ray makes some interesting points:

• The synth is not romantic.
• A piano is not just an instrument, it’s a mini-orchestra
• Nothing lends a more elegant tone to a room than a baby grand sitting regally in the corner.
• The design has stood the test of time, testament to its success.

He also has some more personal reasons for loving the piano: he attributes the piano’s help in him meeting his wife; he remembers parties around the piano, singing songs til the early hours of the morning.

The synth is a fantastic invention of modern technology and in its own right is a fantastic music maker, but it will never replace the piano which has stood as a giant amongst instruments for centuries, and will continue to do so.

Long live the piano!

Read the orginal article: Piano man

Maybe a time not to use synthesisers

Gary writes I Hate Synthesizers

Here’s why:

see, i’ve been browsing thru my old cd collection, and i come upon that grand 80s musical, Les Miserables. and i’m like “cool! i remember Les Miz having wonderful music! and i throw it in the old cd player. so, it DOES have wonderful music….in concept. the melodies are lovely, the emotions beautiful, BUT (being the 80s musical it is) THEY HAVE TO USE A GODDAM SYNTHENSIZER!!!! example: “Do you Hear the People Sing?” is a very good, recognizable song, but here’s how the music starts:

bum bum bum bum “do you hear the people sing, singing the songs of angry men…”

can you guess what the bum is? yes, its a synthesized organ-piano sound (but mostly shitty sound), framed by a cautious drum and the whispers of a cello. i mean… they’re smart enough to use a cello (cellos have one of the most pleasant sounds in the orchestra), why do they have to use a synthesizer??? synthesizers stand out like a sore thumb, are an artificial, hollow sound, and are generally displeasing. i mean, if they wanted to use a piano SOUND then they could have just used a damn piano. or they could have done more with that drum they’ve got sitting there. ikh.

a full organic orchestra has a beautiful resonance. each instrument is emotional, and full. synthesizers are empty and cheap.

feel free to interpet this as a metaphor for life.

Yep.

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