I've also heard that Bosendorfers are better for Mozart, Haydn, early Beethoven etc. while Steinways are better for Romantic period composers, but am still a little confused.
Full Version: Steinway Vs Bosendorfer
I've heard a little bit about this "fight", but all I know is that Steinways have a "rounder" sound, and the Bosendorfer Imperial Grand has notes all the way down to C. What are the big differences between the two?
I've also heard that Bosendorfers are better for Mozart, Haydn, early Beethoven etc. while Steinways are better for Romantic period composers, but am still a little confused.
I've also heard that Bosendorfers are better for Mozart, Haydn, early Beethoven etc. while Steinways are better for Romantic period composers, but am still a little confused.
i don't really know the difference between them...but i personal perfere to have a steinway....i've played on one before...so nice...
love them both, but as you said, some are better for Baroque/Classical music, others are good for Romantic/Contemporary music. So... I can't really say!!!!!
I'm happy with my Bechstein and Bluthner myself though... I don't think I particularly need to spend 50 grand on a piano... not that I could anyway...
I'm happy with my Bechstein and Bluthner myself though... I don't think I particularly need to spend 50 grand on a piano... not that I could anyway...
i play on a steinway in my lesson and for exams - i love playing them!
I've read concert pianists always want a Steinway, and Steinway itself bragged that it was played 390 times out of 410 concerts in a season! I've never heard of Bosendorfer, just seen that picture of Liszt playing it...
In the same category there is also Bechstein, though they are no longer made, I think.
Steinway (founded in New York mid 19C) was better at marketing themselves than Bosendorfer (still an Austrian firm, founded early 19C), to a certain extent: they developed relationships with performers ("Steinway Artists"), provide pianos for the great musicians and concert halls of this world throughout the 20th century, and when you keep seeing "recorded using a Steinway" all over the place, you end up requesting one too. Steinway also happen to be based in New York, and they provide pianos for recitalists practice in their offices across the street from Carnegie Hall, for example. They built a mystique around their name (the "legendary" Steinway)...100 or even 50 years ago there were a lot more piano makers and no one dominated the scene as today: every self-respecting household had one and it was often bought relatively locally, but now this is no longer the case - for obvious reasons. Many disappeared, some came close, only the largest, financially stable ones remained. Today they both have programmes to equip music schools and universities with pianos, they run competitions, have practice halls etc....but guess what, from New York you have access to a much larger market and audience then from Vienna....this is quite clear from the Steinway website, on the history page they talk about "Steinway banks" in all major locations in the US from which performing artists can come and pick their Steinway for a concert!!!!
I have found Steinways tend to have a slightly metallic sound and firm action, whereas the Bechstein is much mellower. Can't say for the Bosendorfer but guess it is closer to the Bechstein. Also there are variations according to when the piano was built, whether it was specially tuned (pianist Andras Schiff travels with hie Steinway, that is "prepared" by this one italian guy), has been restrung, repaired, has lived in good or mediocre conditions....
Finally, I suspect many great pianists own one of each!
Steinway (founded in New York mid 19C) was better at marketing themselves than Bosendorfer (still an Austrian firm, founded early 19C), to a certain extent: they developed relationships with performers ("Steinway Artists"), provide pianos for the great musicians and concert halls of this world throughout the 20th century, and when you keep seeing "recorded using a Steinway" all over the place, you end up requesting one too. Steinway also happen to be based in New York, and they provide pianos for recitalists practice in their offices across the street from Carnegie Hall, for example. They built a mystique around their name (the "legendary" Steinway)...100 or even 50 years ago there were a lot more piano makers and no one dominated the scene as today: every self-respecting household had one and it was often bought relatively locally, but now this is no longer the case - for obvious reasons. Many disappeared, some came close, only the largest, financially stable ones remained. Today they both have programmes to equip music schools and universities with pianos, they run competitions, have practice halls etc....but guess what, from New York you have access to a much larger market and audience then from Vienna....this is quite clear from the Steinway website, on the history page they talk about "Steinway banks" in all major locations in the US from which performing artists can come and pick their Steinway for a concert!!!!
I have found Steinways tend to have a slightly metallic sound and firm action, whereas the Bechstein is much mellower. Can't say for the Bosendorfer but guess it is closer to the Bechstein. Also there are variations according to when the piano was built, whether it was specially tuned (pianist Andras Schiff travels with hie Steinway, that is "prepared" by this one italian guy), has been restrung, repaired, has lived in good or mediocre conditions....
Finally, I suspect many great pianists own one of each!
Whats a bosendorfer? 
@@@@
| QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Jan 18 2005, 12:32 PM) | ||||
Isn't it an angry townsfolk?  
 |
Angry villager, I believe
If it was for buffalos surely they would have moved the office upstate, to.... Buffalo? I always thought it was all about strengthening fingers - you know, the way of the stone...
Was asked to play in a concert - forget the piece, but they had this 9ft Steinway, was amazing - never played one since. Can't comment on the Bosendorfer... but i'm sure it's just as good, but the steinway!
Most famous pianist I can think of who always played on (his own) Bosendorfer: Oscar Peterson.
| QUOTE |
| In the same category there is also Bechstein, though they are no longer made, I think. |
I think they are still in production, uprights at least - tried one out last year when choosing a new piano. It was great, but in the end something slightly shorter won out (thank heavens, as the bechstein would never have made it up the stairs...).
There was an interesting article in an airline inflight mag about Steinway. Sounded like Steinway establishes a relationship with concert pianists and then supports them with instruments for recordings etc (the Steinway 'banks' I guess). But woe betide if they go and perform on something else!!
As Cheeble says, you can love 'em both but it's horses for courses... Steinway's pretty much up there at the top, but I don't know whether it's really the piano equivalent of a Strad. Give it another 200 years
what's that Italian firm? relatively recent, supposed to make amazing pianos?
I read about it in a book entitled "the piano shop on the left bank" which I enjoyed reading... there was a lot in it, but this name has escaped clean out of my head!
I read about it in a book entitled "the piano shop on the left bank" which I enjoyed reading... there was a lot in it, but this name has escaped clean out of my head!
Fazioli ?
sounds about right, yep... anyway played one?
| QUOTE (Fen @ Jan 23 2005, 11:23 AM) |
| As Cheeble says, you can love 'em both but it's horses for courses... Steinway's pretty much up there at the top, but I don't know whether it's really the piano equivalent of a Strad. Give it another 200 years |
I agree totally. I reckon in piano/violin terms, Stradivarius/Steinway comes top, and Guarnerius/Bosendorfer(or Bechstein) comes second.
I actually prefer Bechsteins to Steinways, although I love them both, because Bechsteins have fantastic bass registers and a lovely mellow sound.
In the same way I prefer the sound of a Guarnerius to the sound of a Strad. Strads have the volume, but Guarneris have the tone... mmm.... although, of course, they're both amazing instruments!
| QUOTE (cheeble @ Jan 23 2005, 02:34 PM) | ||
In the same way I prefer the sound of a Guarnerius to the sound of a Strad. Strads have the volume, but Guarneris have the tone... mmm.... although, of course, they're both amazing instruments! |
That's a good illustration of Fen's point: Strads for romantic concertos, where you have to compete with a big orchestra, Guarneris for string chamber music.
| QUOTE (kenm @ Jan 23 2005, 03:34 PM) |
| Strads for romantic concertos, where you have to compete with a big orchestra, Guarneris for string chamber music. |
Couldn't agree more!!! Of course, I'll have to wait until the next life before I ever get to play a Strad or a Guarnerius...
| QUOTE (kenm @ Jan 23 2005, 03:34 PM) |
| That's a good illustration of Fen's point: Strads for romantic concertos, where you have to compete with a big orchestra, Guarneris for string chamber music. |
Are they expensive, these fiddles? Wondering if it was worth buying one as I always wanted to play violin.
| QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Jan 23 2005, 04:27 PM) | ||
Are they expensive, these fiddles? Wondering if it was worth buying one as I always wanted to play violin. |
If you have a few million to spare, go ahead...
| QUOTE (cheeble @ Jan 23 2005, 04:28 PM) | ||||
If you have a few million to spare, go ahead... |
in fact, get one of each, then you know you will always have the appropriate instrument to match the piece.
wonder what examiners would say if you said, "hold on a tick, just have to get my strad out for this piece..."
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