Steinway D-274

For other uses, see Steinway (disambiguation).

Stephen Beus performs on a Steinway concert grand piano model D-274 in the 2006 Gina Bachauer International Artists Piano Competition

D-274 (or D) is the model name of a concert grand piano, the flagship of the Steinway & Sons line, first built in 1884. It is generally described as the first choice of most concert pianists, although in recent years some high-profile artists have become defectors; Angela Hewitt, for example, has made widely publicised remarks favoring Fazioli instruments over the model D.

At 274 cm (8' 11-3/4") long, 156 cm (61 1/4") wide, and 480 kg (990 pounds) the D-274 is too large for most domestic situations. In concert hall settings, on the other hand, the D-274 is a major presence. One example would be the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, which traditionally offers contestants a choice of two D-274s owned by the foundation, supplemented with another choice from an outside source. Another would be the Tupelo, Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, which in 2004 launched a Pianoforte Society fundraising drive specifically to purchase a D-274 and then, after acquiring the instrument, established a concert series to showcase it. The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in Australia launched a similar initiative in 2010. An estimate from 2003 suggested that more than 90% of concert grand pianos worldwide at the time were D-274s.

Design

Most critical design elements of the D-274 were developed during the 19th century and have changed little since. Among them are the action and scale designs, perfected by Henry Steinway, Jr., the company founder's son; the laminated wooden rim, cast iron frame, and hammers, all originating in designs patented by C.F. Theodor Steinway, another of the founder's sons; some elements of the trap work, first devised by Albert Steinway, a third son; and the soundboard, built on a design patented by younger family member Paul Bilhuber.

Artists' preference – geographic origin and specific instruments

Sergei Rachmaninoff at a Steinway grand piano

Steinway manufactures the D-274 in two factories, one in New York and one in Hamburg, Germany. Outwardly, New York and Hamburg D-274s differ most noticeably in finish, with the former displaying traditional satin lacquer and the latter high-gloss polyester. Differences in the respective instruments' tone and playing character, however, have led particular pianists to gravitate to the output of one factory or the other; Vladimir Horowitz, for instance, preferred a New York D-274, whereas Marc-Andre Hamelin, Alfred Brendel, Arcadi Volodos, and Artur Rubinstein were partial to the Hamburg product. Sergei Rachmaninoff bought three D-274s, all New York products, for his homes in the United States, but he installed a Hamburg D-274 in his Swiss villa. The difference between the New York and Hamburg Steinway pianos is less noticeable today. Pianist and Steinway Artist Emanuel Ax says that "... the differences have more to do with individual instruments than with where they were made."

Several artists have developed documented association with particular D-274s. Examples would include the following:

• Sergei Rachmaninoff recorded all his sessions for Victor in New York on D-274s No. 147,681 and No. 194,597. When Zenph Studios undertook to recreate those recordings through modern computer playback technology, the company chose a 1909 D-274, No. 133,291, as the underlying instrument; the restored piano is prominently featured at the company's Internet site.
• Vladimir Horowitz favored a D-274 that he called "Beauty." When the instrument became unserviceably worn, he retained piano technician Joseph Pramberger to rebuild it completely.
• Glenn Gould maintained a well-known preference for D-274 number CD 318-C, which he found, much worn and awaiting shipment back to the factory for decommissioning, in the auditorium of a Toronto department store in 1946. He retained technician Verne Edquist to restore and maintain the instrument and had it shipped to any auditorium in which he was to play. The piano sustained a cracked plate during such a shipment in 1971, when Gould had scheduled a recording session with the Cleveland orchestra; for years thereafter, Edquist attempted to repair the damage, and his inability to do so was a source of great distress to Gould. The CD 318-C still exists in its damaged state, preserved at Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa, which also houses the Glenn Gould Archive.
• To circumvent company policy that would have compelled her to record on a smaller instrument, Olga Samaroff purchased a D-274 on which to make her recordings for Victor late in the acoustic era. Later, finding the size of the instrument to present storage difficulties, she purchased a dwelling in Seal Harbor, Maine with a studio large enough to house it.

Special editions and price record

The special designed D-274 in the White House

Over the years, Steinway has produced a small number of special or limited editions of the D-274. These can range from ornately carved bodywork, to large changes in the colour scheme.

The world's most expensive grand piano sold at auction is a special designed D-274 built by Steinway's factory in New York City, United States, in 1887; it sold for $1.2 million in 1997 at Christie's in London. By setting this record, Steinway broke its own 1997 price record of $390,000.

In popular culture

D-274s have been used in numerous popular events of a range of forms, styles and medias. Some few examples are:

• The Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010, was opened with a music video with a performance by Rihanna, Jay-Z, E.S. Posthumus and the Rutgers Symphony Orchestra. The D-274, which is seen in the beginning of the music video, was supplied from the Concert & Artist division of Steinway, located at Steinway Hall in Manhattan.
• In the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony for U.S. President Barack Obama on December 10, 2009, Steinway Artist Lang Lang performed on a D-274 Liebesträume by Franz Liszt.
• The inauguration ceremony for US President Barack Obama on January 20, 2009, featured a performance of John Williams's composition Air and Simple Gifts by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Itzhak Perlman, pianist Gabriela Montero and clarinetist Anthony McGill. Gabriela Montero played on a D-274.
• In the Ellen DeGeneres Show on November 17, 2008, seven-year-old child prodigy Emily Bear played on a D-274 her own composition called Once Upon A Wish dedicated for Ellen DeGeneres's and Portia de Rossi's wedding.
• In NBC's Today Show on October 18, 2007, Lola Astanova played a D-274.
• In a nationally televised commercial aired in Fall 2007, Texas Christian University uses its status as an All-Steinway School to promote itself. The commercial shows a D-274.
• In an Emmy nominated television commercial for Mercedes-Benz produced by Gerard De Thame in 2001, a new modern Noah's Ark is shown. This new Noah's Ark is been loaded with two of different sorts of animals, but also with luxury products from the world of today. One of these luxury products is a D-274 filmed from an angle so that the Steinway logo is clearly seen.

Concert grand piano banks

For the convenience of touring performers and in the belief that every D-274 is somewhat different in character, Steinway maintains a collection of D-274s in "concert grand piano banks" across the world; for instance, the company maintains more than 40 in the basement of Steinway Hall in Manhattan. Such pianos are given "CD" designators, and they receive replacement stencils calculated for greater visibility at a distance. A pianist visiting one of these banks may sample and choose from a range of D-274s, according to taste, for public performance or recording; Steinway prepares and transports the chosen instrument, although the artist bears the cost of these services. As noted above, some artists have developed affinities for particular instruments included in this program; the requirement that instruments so supplied be credited to Steinway led to Olga Samaroff's above-mentioned purchase of a D-274 on which to make records.

Popular accounts of manufacture

Steinway Artist Hélène Grimaud at a D-274

At least three independent accounts have detailed the process by which Steinway manufactures the D-274. In 1982, Michael Lenehan published an article in Atlantic Monthly in which he followed the construction of a D-274, designated as K 2571 during manufacture and later, after its adoption into the piano bank program, as CD-129. A somewhat revised version of the article posted to the Internet includes information updated in 1997. The original article, dating to approximately the time of the company's sale to CBS, described many practices held over from the 19th century, mostly personalized by focusing on individual employees tasked with performing them, but it also touched on what then were prospective changes under consideration to modernize certain aspects of production. The 1997 update continues that approach, updating the various personal stories but also detailing the company's subsequent ownership history and adoption of selected new production methods.

More recently, The New York Times ran a series of articles, ultimately published in book form,, following the construction of a D-274 designated K 0862. More recently still, an independent documentary film entitled Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037 followed the construction of a D-274 for more than a year, from the search for wood in Alaska to display of the finished instrument at Manhattan's Steinway Hall. The film received its first theatrical screening was at New York's Film Forum in November, 2007 and played to generally favorable notices. Featured are discussions and demonstrations of Steinway instruments generally, and the D-274 in particular, by Steinway family member Henry Z. Steinway and pianists Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Kenny Barron, Bill Charlap, Harry Connick, Jr., Hélène Grimaud, Hank Jones, Lang Lang, and Marcus Roberts.

Authorized Steinway Virtual Concert Grand Piano

The Authorized Steinway Virtual Concert Grand Piano from the company Garritan, is a sample-based software instrument developed in collaboration with Steinway. The Authorized Steinway Virtual Concert Grand Piano recreates the sound of the D-274. The software comes in three versions: Professional, Standard and Basic. The Professional version is the Steinway concert grand piano from five different listening perspectives: that of the player from the piano bench; a classical recording; an under-the-lid; a stage; and a close audience perspective. The Standard version gives the under lid and classic perspectives. The Basic version is, according to Garritan, ideal for students, amateur musicians, and educators, and is a light version that gives a single perspective. The recording of the D-274 chosen for the sample set was made in Troy Music Hall in Rensselaer County, New York.

Pictures

• 
  Steinway Artist Daniel Barenboim, age 11, after playing on a D-274 with conductor Moshe Lustig and the Gadna Symphony orchestra in Israel on August 1, 1953
• 
  The world's most expensive grand piano sold at auction is this special designed D-274 named Steinway Alma Tadema; it sold for $1.2 million in 1997 at Christie's in London. This D-274 is built in 1883-87 and designed by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema. It is displayed at the art museum Clark Art Institute
• 
  D-274 at Steinway Hall in London
• 
  The bronzed cast iron plate of the D-274

See also

• Steinway & Sons
• Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037

Further reading

• Barron, James (2006). Piano: The Making of a Steinway Concert Grand. New York: Holt. ISBN 0805078789.
• Chapin, Miles (1997). 88 keys: The making of a Steinway piano. New York: Potter. ISBN 0-517-70356-4.
• Matthias, Max (2006). Steinway Service Manual – Guide to the care of a Steinway (3rd ed.). Bergkirchen: PPV-Medien/Bochinsky. ISBN 978-3-923639-15-1.

External links

• Steinway & Sons Official Website – New York City Template:En icon
• Steinway & Sons Official Website – Hamburg Template:De icon
• Specifications and features about D-274 Template:En icon
• Article in the Atlantic Monthly following the construction of a D-274 Template:En icon
• Nine-part series in the New York Times following the construction of a D-274 at the factory in New York City Template:En icon