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As many of you know, I own a piano that I consider to be very special. It is a Falcone grand built in Boston. It is Falcone #102 out of about 500 that were built. But, since our pianos become like members of our family, as time goes on we begin to see and hear every flaw, wart, and annoying sound.
After an upstate New York winter, my favorite piano was getting very annoying. A buzz here, funky tuning, regulation ok, but voicing getting really gross! The upper octaves were sounding shrill, ugly and even though the unisons were tight, the piano was not very enjoyable to play. There were some nasty things going on in the midrange, etc. So.............I ignored it for a few months and didn't play it! (not cool for a professional pianist).
Work was so busy and I was playing at work almost every day anyway. The Falcone was last tuned in November, so it was very much due. So.....a quick call to my trusty tech of over 25 years, Mr. Arthur Nick Smith. As he pulled, pushed, twisted, needled, adjusted, wire brushed, trouble shooted, the wood, metal, and all parts of the instrument I watched and thought about all of the work he has done for me for so many years. Since he has been my tech for so long, Nick knows exactly how I like the piano. I went into the other room to wait for the results.
So, a while later, Nick invites me back to my own living room and has me sit and play my own piano. The temperement is spread in the bass just the way I like it. All spurious sounds are gone; the piano is back to the piano I love. The bass is beautiful, the tenor is tremendous, the alto is harmonious and the soprano is melodius (there, i thought of an adjective for all of them!).
Thank you Nick. Thank you to all of you techs that bring out the best in our instruments. You are the partners in our musical endevors.
The artist formerly known as Irwin Goldberg
Damion Bertram, pianist, conductor
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