(Move mouse
over the image to find clickable areas - e.g., keyboard, leg, etc.
- altogether 8 images. Close pop-up window before clicking on another
area.)
The
Anton Martin Thÿm GRAND PIANO, No. 94, ca 1815
Rawlins Fund 1985
This is the piece de resistance that greeted one and all into
the exhibition hall. It is an exquisite example of the piano in Beethoven's
time - when musical instruments were crafted to be as pleasing to
the eye as to the ear. Thus this piano, as are most of the pieces
on exhibit are works of art in themselves. The purpleheart case is
decorated with inlaid ivory and fruitwood edging showing a red vine
with sunflowers, and grape leaves. The vertical moldings show a portrait
of a woman, a man's profile, and a lyre. The fruitwood nameboard has
a pen and ink landscape with angels and cherubs, a man with a lyre
and a woman with a wreath in hand. The legs are topped with Nubian
slaves wearing gold turbans, their hands covering their ears. To the
right of center is the craftman's signature inscribed on a large rock.
This piano has seven pedals capable of creating the special effects
popular in Vienna at the time, especially among upper-class young
ladies - such as bells and drum, bassoon, damper, strong and medium
moderator, etc. (an early inspiration for today's electronic keyboard?).
Click HERE to
know how a portable piano (or orphica) looked like in Beethoven's
time. (Close pop-up window when done.)
Detail photos courtesy of the Philharmonic Society
of Orange County.
Photo courtesy of the Philharmonic Society of Orange
County
UK
