Amazon.com
The piano may well be the world's most versatile instrument, and the Steinway is the United States's most celebrated manufacturer. This handsome volume takes you inside the process of building a Steinway, from the selection of the woods (yellow birch, sugar maple, sugar pine, yellow poplar, Sitka spruce, and, for the exteriors, various hardwoods) through the construction of the soundboard and keyboard, from the manufacture of the piano's rim and case through the building of the metal harp that holds the strings, and to the final assembly and finishing. Along the way are sections on history and physics (good tone doesn't just happen) and a useful glossary. 88 Keys is a fascinating and eminently readable book for anyone with an interest in the art of the piano.
Book Description
More than 500 people are involved in the creation of just one of the world's greatest pianos, the Steinway. From the selection and aging of wood to the delicate voicing of the finished instrument, this special reissue of 88 Keys - The Making of a Steinway Piano relates the story behind the instrument's intricate formation, as told by Miles Chapin, a fifth-generation descendant of Steinway's founder, Henry Engelhard Steinway. Readers will learn about how the piano gets its trademark curve, the "belly men" who fit the metal harp to the wooden frame, the carvers who shape the piano's legs and pedal lyre, and the many other craftspeople who have perfected their specialized contributions to the finished product. They'll also get an insider's look into the company's history against a timeline of major worldwide music events, and into the roles of piano greats, including Anton Rubinstein and Sergei Rachmaninoff, in contributing to its prominence. A glossary of technical terms is included. For music lovers, aspiring musicians, and pianists everywhere.
Customer Reviews:
For the coffee table, in a good way.......2004-10-20
88 Keys is beautifully presented; a large-size book full of fine colored pencil sketches, broken down into chapters on each aspect of the piano.
The book is best suited, and was probably intended, to be a coffee table book at Steinway sites. It provides an overview of the process of building a Steinway, making note of all the innovations that make Steinways pianos the most popular today.
My only reservation is this: I bought it hoping that it would be geared toward the reader interested in the engineering and perhaps physics of piano building. The book provides only enough detail to *just* satisfy this interest, but I walk away like leaving the dinner table still a little hungry.
Nevertheless, this book took me, in its storybook way, from no knowledge of piano manufacture to an overall satisfying knowledge. I'm definitely eager, now, to visit the Steinway factory and see it all for myself.
Fit For The Coffee Table.......2003-03-11
88 KEYES is written for music lovers. It is not intended as a manual on the construction of a piano. It reminds me of a college course on the history of science for liberal arts majors who are not interested in becoming scientists. The book contains a history of the Steinway piano and the people behind it as well as a description of how the Steinway piano is built. It is written with clarity and lavishly illustrated. The book is definitely fit to grace the coffee table. The author incidentally is an accomplished actor and also a fifth-generation descendant of Steinway's founder.
Gorgeous book about building a piano.......2001-06-23
This book gives you a blow-by-blow account of how a piano is made at the Steinway factory in New York City. The book is readable and gives you an appreciation of the detail and precision, all of the handiwork that go into a well-crafted piano. It also shows that a piano is not just a standard item -- pianos are crafted for individuals (Horowitz likes a light, responsive touch, Rubenstein wanted a more resistant touch, some performers want different tones depending on what they are playing). The only drawback (unless you're a Steinway groupie) -- it's rather self-promotional, a well-written, well-illustrated 143-page Steinway & Sons advertisement, but fascinating nonetheless.
Oversized Pamphlet, inadequate detail and diagrams.......2001-02-14
This is fundamentally an oversized pamphlet. It is double-spaced with wide margins and still only has about 130 pages including many illustrations. Steinway has a CD-rom, which one can obtain quite easily, which covers many Steinway construction topics with better illustrations (including video) than this pamphlet. Anyone with any knowledge at all of piano construction (viewers of the Steinway CD- rom video, and a couple of manufacturers' brochures) will be disappointed in this book.
The book contains no photographs. Hard to believe, eh? The illustrations are excellent, but do not seem to be integrated with the text and very few are diagrammatic showing how things work, just show how they are, if you are lucky.
Many topics are described without detailed reference and explanation with an illustration or diagram.
E.g.. Pg. 15 clavichord mechanism is described verbally, without diagrams.
Pg 64: English style ... "the hammer heads are placed at the far end of the mechanisms and move forward when the keys are struck." I am clueless as to what this would look like. " a glimpse at any contemporary grand piano keyboard will..." How about a picture?
Pg 48-49 Re: matched veneers: " a careful look at the case of any natural wood-finished Steinway will show you how good they are." No photographs or illustrations.
Pg 52 re Scales. "these characteristic dimensions differentiate pianos from different makers more than any other technical element." Perhaps I do not understand the statement, but a Steinway salesperson will point out three distinct differentiations between Steinway and its competitors, which are technically related in my mind.
I was abhorred to look down at the page number, 62, half way through the book, and realized I had only learned a few things of interest and had not learned anything of several topics which I had assumed would be covered. While I did not keep track of the time, I felt I had only been reading a short while.
On several occasions the author begins on what appears an interesting topic, but he either aborts early or has no illustrative diagrams and I cannot follow, despite very good grades in science classes from a prestigious private etc.
Pg. 56. He starts talking about harmonics, but has no diagrams, and again, if one does not know harmonics will probably just be confused.
He talks about sound board gluing, but again no illustrative diagrams or dimensions on final cut. How thick is a soundboard?
Bridge: verbally describes making one, but no diagrams or detailed illustrations.
I will stop with the last. One thing I would certainly expect from a book on making a piano is a detailed explanation with diagrams of how the action works. Pg. 71 (this paragraph is unbelievable): "A model of a piano's action is a fascinating thing to behold. I used to play with one for hours on end ..." "The answer is that the pianos action has evolved over years of experimentation." That's it! No explanation of how the mechanism of the action actually works. One very nice still illustration, but no explanation or additional diagrams.
If this book does not sell on Amazon, it will not sell anywhere, because I would never have bought this oversized pamphlet at a bookstore.
Sorry.
88 Keys give endless pleasure.......2000-05-28
With exquisite illustrations by Rodica Prato, this book attempts to explain the most complicated piece of machinery made by hand in the world today - the much-loved & familiar grand pianofortes from the Masters at the House of Steinway. For those of us, seduced as children by the wonder of a piano, so much so that we dreamed at the keyboard, created our own little ditties & mimicked the music & sounds that we heard in our lives, this is a wonderful reunion! I loved the time line at the bottom of the history chapter, now what is that melody, I wonder? An unusual, unique & absorbing book. Certainly a good idea for anyone starting out at the keyboards!
Customer Reviews:
Do you love Disney as much as I do?.......1998-11-18
This songbook is a must for any Disney fans. It has many songs from almost all cartoons from the very first, up to Aladdin, and includes many TV shows etc.
Average customer rating:
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Company of Pianos
Richard Burnett
Manufacturer: Third Millennium Pub Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Piano
| Instruments & Performers
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
History & Criticism
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Furniture
| Antiques & Collectibles
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Antiques & Collectibles
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1903942357 |
Book Description
Richard Burnett traces the development of the piano from its origins to the present day, using instruments from his internationally known collection, at the Finchcocks Museum in Kent, England, as the inspiration and navigational means for his story.
Average customer rating:
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Music for the millions;: The Kimball piano and organ story
Van Allen Bradley
Manufacturer: H. Regnery Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
General
| Instruments & Performers
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Piano
| Instruments & Performers
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: B0007DT05Q |
Book Description
The first book based on the rich archive of Steinway business and family papers at LaGuardia Community College in New York, as well as on interviews with family members and company employees in the United States, Germany, and England, this authoritative and entertaining book tells the story of the most famous piano company in the world and of the family behind it.
Customer Reviews:
The best book on Steinway's history and its pianos.......2000-09-07
Lieberman is the director of the archives that house the Steinway collection, and writes as a knowledgeable insider. The history of the family and its pianos is told, from its beginnings in Germany, up through the sale to CBS and the Birminghams (the sale to the Selmer Company in 1995 happened after the publication of the book.) As a bonus, there's a great history of Yamaha pianos and its fierce competition with Steinway. It's well-written and there are numerous photos.
This is great reading, and a wonderful resouce for anyone interested in music or pianos.
See below.......1999-10-07
About a month ago, I wrote a reader's comment on Richard Lieberman's "Steinway and Sons," carefully following your guidelines. To date, that piece has not been posted; nor have I received any message explaining that it would not be posted. Please advise. Sincerely, Brian Gallagher (gallb@aol.com)
An engaging and insightful book!.......1999-08-12
Mr. Lieberman provides a captivating glimpse into one of America's oldest family run businesses. Based upon meticulous research, the reader is introduced to a family that essentially defined our cultural heritage. From the family patriarch's pre-civil war immigration to the present, we watch as this family courses its way through America's turbulent past. No only does this book expose the electic (and even dysfunctional) mix of characters so common in family owned businesses, but it also provides an intimate perspective of how this business survived the challenges of the civil war, industrialization, World Wars I & II, the depression, unionization, and finally, the global economy. Along the way, the reader learns how these defining historical events also created significant shifts in American ideals and culture. For those of you who enjoy "hands-on history," you'll find this book truly rewarding!
Steinwway & Sons is a superb family and social history........1999-03-29
Steinway & Sons is a rich, absorbing history of a business dynasty that stayed vital over six generations. Lieberman astutely analyzes the twin forces of creativity and hard-nosed business sense that made and sustained Steinway's preeminence as the concert piano of choice. This richly anecdotal book does not shy away from the dark side of the family's history-- its contempt for the piano workers, its unthinking patriarchy, even its active cultivation of the Nazis in Germany during World War II. (In America Steinway emphasized its patriotism by draping its conert hall with American flags and publicizing the Steinway sons who were serving in the American armed forces.) In this balanced account, Lieberman takes pains to catalogue the family's numerous contributions to the conert piano's evolution, as well as its unceasing promotion of the finest artists. The Steinways' mixture of creative technical innovation, fine musical taste and ruthless business practices makes them a family of particular fascination. Lieberman brings the various figures, strong and weak and flawed, to vibrant life.
This book is an absorbing social history of our times.......1999-03-17
Lieberman's book is a wonderful and absorbing social history of our times disguised as a family history. The book covers a journey which begins in the 1850s and ends in the 1980s when this manufacturer of exquisite pianos was sold to a larger corporate entity, CBS. The story reads like a novel because it is a dramatic family and corporate tale that unfolds as you read.
Average customer rating:
- A very thorough, informed and informative history
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Manufacturing the Muse: Estey Organs and Consumer Culture in Victorian America (Music/Culture)
Dennis G. Waring
Manufacturer: Wesleyan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Piano
| Instruments & Performers
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
History & Criticism
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| 19th Century
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Turn of the Century
| 19th Century
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Culture
| Sociology
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0819565083 |
Book Description
Purchases of American reed organs between 1850 and 1910 exceeded that of pianos by almost two to one. Manufacturing the Muse is the story of the reed organ, a centerpiece in American parlors, churches, and gathering places for nearly a century. It is also the story of venerable New England entrepreneur Jacob Estey, whose industrial standardization of instrument manufacture strongly affected Victorian popular culture, social stratification, gender issues, and musical taste. Dennis Waring's examination of The Estey Organ Company (1846 to 1960) and its production and marketing strategies reveals much concerning the importance of the reed organ as a significant artifact in the history of American consumerism.
The companion CD includes a variety of period pieces, some selected from the Estey Organ Method, all played on Estey organs. Extensive appendices include surveys of Estey organ case design, free-reed making operations, diagrams, maps, timelines, and music. A generous number of photographs round out the book, which may be read as a good story as well as an important part of America's history.
Customer Reviews:
A very thorough, informed and informative history.......2002-09-07
Manufacturing The Muse: Estey Organs & Consumer Culture In Victorian America by ethnomusicologist Dennis G. Waring is a very thorough, informed and informative history and analysis of the reed organ, an majestic instrument once more popular than the piano, in the latter half of the nineteenth century. The amazing story of how this remarkable instrument was standardized and distributed is illustrated with black-and-white photographs and artworks. An accompanying music CD with reed organ selections rounds out this fascinating compendium of musical and American consumer history. Highly recommended for academic Music History reference collections, Manufacturing The Muse is also available in hardcover (0819565075, ...).
Customer Reviews:
A tiresome, over-stylized bio.......2000-09-05
Get Lieberman's book (or Susan Goldeberg's) if the subject matter interests you. If you're hungry for more Steinway lore, I suggest you read Lieberman's book again, because this one is a mess. What appears on the surface to be a well-researched biography of the Steinway family becomes an excuse for telling various sordid scandals of the day, some of which are totally unrelated to the subject matter at hand, and many of which are purely speculative on the part of the author (I cannot count the number of times the words "possibly" and "perhaps" appear in the text.)
Worse yet is the author's "creative" writing style, in which every third or fourth sentence is twisted into some obscure metaphor. Every time the story threatens to take flight on its own, Fostle steps in with an inappropriate comment, awkward analogy, or meaningless statistic (he likes to count the number of days between events and the number of words within speeches.) I felt as if I were trapped in an elevator with a second-rate creative writing workshop student.
Underneath all of the stylistic effluvia lies an on-again, off-again biography of William Steinway. If Fostle had simply gotten out of the way and told the story, we might have had something here. But as things stand, this is a tiring, tedious read. If you're a true Steinway aficionado, you'll probably seek this out regardless of what I've just said. Just don't say you weren't warned. If you're new to the subject matter, the true "Steinway Saga" begins and ends with Lieberman's book.
Fascinating look at 19th Century industrial America........1998-03-03
A long book to be read unhurried and thoughtfully. The 19th c. period is an overview of commerce "red in tooth and claw." Concerns were often different but methods much the same as now, perhaps even rougher. The last 50 pages or so hits you like a waterfall of bad decisions, bad management, and incredible lack of understanding of what pianos were and are. A very rich book indeed.
Book Description
Known and prized around the world in the form of the "Irish fisherman's sweater," Aran knitting features distinctive, highly textured patterns of cables and ropes. Suitable for novices to the Aran style as well as for experienced knitters, this guide offers start-to-finish advice. More than 20 patterns, illustrated by 117 close-up photographs, include:
• Traditional fisherman's sweater
• Family sweater, with round, polo, or V-neck
• Cardigans
• Jackets and coats
• Hat, mittens, and scarf set
• Cushion covers
Traditional Aran Knitting also explains the history of the craft and the meaning behind the coded "messages" woven into the unique Aran patterns.
Customer Reviews:
The Complete Book of Traditional Aran Knitting.......2006-09-21
I've had this book for a few years now. It has many classic aran knitting designs that can be updated quickly and easily. It's a nice addition to your knitting library if you enjoy knitting cables. A good supplement to any of Barbara G. Walkers Treasury of Knitting Patterns. Included are the following chapters:
Forward 6
Introduction 9
1. About the Aran Islands 10
2. Development of Aran Knitting 13
3. Equipment and working methods 18
4. Designing an Aran sweater 26
5. Aran pattern stitch samples 32
6. The knitting patterns 64
1 Traditional fishing shirt 64
2 Traditional fishing shirt 70
3 Traditional fishing shirt 77
4 Family sweater, Round neck 83
5 Family sweater, V-neck 88
6 Family sweater, Polo neck 89
7 V-neck, raglan-shaped cardigans 90
8 Cable-patterned waistcoats 95
9 Easy knit jackets 101
1o Man's zip-fronted jacket 104
11,12,13 Child's Aran patterned coat, hat & mitts set 108
14 Child's sweater with crossover shawl collar 115
15 Lady's full length Aran patterned coat 119
16 Lady's evening waistcoat 123
17 Lady's tabard 128
18,19,20 Lady's hat, mitts and scarf set 131
21 Square cushion cover 136
22 Oblong cushion cover 138
23 Bolster-shaped cushion cover 140
Conversion chart for knitting needles and crochet hooks 142
Suppliers 143
Index 144
Book Description
New edition of knitting classic. Traditional handnitting designs for men and women. Features colorful Fair Isles, hard-wearing Aryans and Guernseys, delicate Shetland patterns and garments from Iceland and the Falklands. Inclues usable pattern sections.
Book Description
In this delightful book, best-selling author Debbie Bliss presents 30 classic knitwear designs for children from birth to six years.
Customer Reviews:
Knitting for Kids.......2007-09-30
Another great Debbie Bliss book...Some really beautiful patterns in this book...Just remember that the end results will come out lots bigger than you think...Very generous sizing...
the Best Bliss Book.......2003-03-04
....and I mean it. This one is really good. Like many other knitters I have been burned by Bliss' designs often. Her designs do tend to repeat themselves from collection to collection and the pictures, while cute, never show the designs properly. Well, this collection has b&w pictures of the items next to the instructions after the color pictures which are huddled in the front of the book. (I'm talking about a hardcover copy and am assuming that the paperback is identical). The designs are charming and definitely classics. I am buying my own paperback copy and finally returning my library copy. I also recommend the book Knits for Kids by Lena Stengard. This one is a keeper
Great example of knitter's "Bliss".......2000-03-28
I just counted, I have 7 books by Debbie Bliss. That is probably why I found this book to be a bit less enchanting than I had expected it to be.
I like her books - enjoy the layout and can always understand the instructions. However, within the body of her work, this set of designs just seemed a little too similar to some in her other books for me to get excited. As a stand alone book, it has charming styles.
I still give it a 4 for good instructions, photography and cute styles.
Wonderful collection of kids sweaters.......1999-11-23
Bliss designed a great variety of styles, all attractive and all, sadly, only in children's sizing (many would make truly lovely adult sweaters). Difficulty level is not high -- some are fairly simple to make and the others are well worth the effort. Some are rugged sweaters, others decorative. Sweaters for boys and girls, too. The photography is nice and instructions are clear. Really a fabulous book.
inspiring patterns, a bit difficult for new knitters........1998-04-27
My husband and I started knitting while expecting our first child. Ms. Bliss' books contain photos of beautiful sweaters, caps and dresses which are very inspiring. The most classically fashionable that I've ever seen, and surprisingly not impossible to make. We also own her "Kids Country Knits" which is great. My husband's first ever knitting project was a large stuffed sheep, and his second a beautiful sailor collar style sweater with a family of ducks knitted into the design. Both turned out great!!! These patterns are in the "Kids Country Knits". I made a cute hat and sweater set from the "Classic Knits for Kids". I recommend her books as the instructions are understandable, versatile and the small child sizes take a short time to make.
Books:
- ABC Go!: a Completely New Selection of Outstanding Children's Stories and Poems Compiled for Enrichment Reading By a Distinguished Editorial Board of Children's Librarians: Collier's Junior Classics Young Folks Shelf of Books Volume ONE (1962 Green Hardcover Edition, THIS BOOK AND THIS BOOK ONLY)
- Antique Trader Clocks Price Guide: Including All Types of Clocks-17th Through 20th Century (Antique Trader Clocks Price Guide)
- Antiques at Home: Cherchez's Book of Collecting and Decorating with Antiques
- Arrowheads and Projectile Points (Identification & Values (Collector Books))
- ASPCA Complete Cat Care Manual: The Ultimate Illustrated Guide to Caring for Your Cat
- Baby Booky: Honey Bunny (Baby Booky)
- Be-Dazzled: 50+ Projects for You and Your Home Made With the Original Be-Dazzler Machine
- Bf 109 Defence of the Reich Aces (Aircraft of the Aces)
- Blue Ribbon Afghans from America's State Fairs: 40 Prize-Winning Crocheted Designs
- Boas and Pythons of the World
Books Index
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Piano: The Making of a Steinway Concert Grand
People and Pianos: A Pictorial History of Steinway and Sons
Steinway and Sons
Piano Servicing, Tuning, and Rebuilding, Second Edition: For the Professional, the Student, and the Hobbyist
The Piano Book: Buying & Owning a New or Used Piano
