I am a music store groupie. I have played almost every major grand case instrument Frank has restored for the past several years. I still remember one 1900 7' Steinway Model B that was the most beautiful Steinway I had ever played. I just couldn't bring myself to buy it at the time (one of those Type 1 buyers with no money at the time). It sold. I was crushed. I was hoping it wouldn't sell (for another 5 years!), so that I could afford to buy it. I had my heart and tone set on a Steinway. I wanted a Steinway above all else! or I wouldn't have anything else! Sound familiar?
I grew up when I became a Type 3 buyer. Here's how:
Frank says, "OK! Might take a while finding one."
Gale says, "No problem, I've got time."
Six months later:
Gale says, "Frank, found me a piano yet?"
Frank says, "Can't find one...they are all overpriced for what you are going to eventually have in it!"
Gale says, "Keep trying."
Six months later: (yes, that's one year later, Kids!)
Gale says, "Frank, found my 7' Steinway yet?"
Frank says, "No. Can't find a blooming thing worth the money!"
Gale says, "Frank, I know one will turn up!"
Three months later: (yes, that makes 1.25 Years, Kids!)
Gale says, "Frank, found my 7' Steinway yet?"
Frank says, "No. Can't find a blooming thing worth the money!"
Gale says, "Darn it, keep trying, I'm now past 40!"
Frank says, "I was in D.C. last week and I heard one gutsy
Baldwin concert grand!
Have you ever considered a concert grand?
Have you considered a Baldwin?"
Gale says, "Too big, too expensive. I can't afford one!
A Baldwin... Frank, you're pulling my chain!
A Baldwin is for Wimps...that's not a piano! Those are Wimpy pianos!"
Frank says, "Humph! Man, the Baldwin I heard in D.C. had some guts! Somebody worked on that puppy!
I want to work on one of their artist series concert grands to see what I can do with one. I think I can get the D.C. Baldwin and prepare it for you."
Gale says, "But a concert grand is so blasted big!"
Frank says, "It is only 2' longer than a 7 footer!" If you have room for a 7 footer, what's two feet?"
Gale says, "Well....a concert grand is what I've really wanted all along since I was in college at the Phi Delt House...
Frank says, "So? That's what you want...that's what you should buy...talk to the wife!"
Gale says, "Are you serious. You can make a Baldwin have a delicate touch and gutsy tone?"
Frank says, "Think so."
Gale says, "OK. Get it! But let me clear it with Paula. She's going to kill me!"
Next week: (forget it, Kids! Long time awaiting...right!)
Gale says, "Frank, when's the Baldwin coming in?"
Frank says, "Already sold. Couldn't buy it."
Gale says, "!!@#$%%&&& %%%@@1!@### @@##$$ !""What do we do now?"
Frank says, "Trust me with Baldwin?"
Gale says, "Why not? Paula's up for it."
Frank says, "You're not comfortable?"
Gale says, "No. How much is going to cost?"
(Gale is really having second thoughts as Mr. Big Spender! This is going to be a lot of money!)
Frank says, "Don't know! What are you now....suddenly Mr. Penny Pincher, Huh????"
Gale says, "Maybe I should forget it!"
Frank goes into deep meditation...."Hummmmmm....."
Frank says, "Tell you what. Let me make some more calls and touch base with my friends at Baldwin and see what else is going to become available. I want a Mid-West piano for the climatic conditions. That way, I'll know I won't have any soundboard problems." (a very long pause, Frank thinking...)
"If I find one, I'll make it play the way you want it to. And the tone will be to our liking. When I'm finished, if you don't like it.... You don't have to buy it!"
Gale says, "Frank, when did you fall off the turnip truck? No one makes that kind of offer today!"
Frank says, "I mean it. I get the piano. You come play. We work on it together. You tell me what you don't like or what needs improving when you come in and play."
Gale says, "Sounds O.K. to me. A Baldwin. A concert Grand?
Frank says, "Yeah! Sure! Trust me..."
Three weeks later:
Lynn from Hennessy Music calls on the telephone at my office and matter of factly says, "Gale, Hi! Frank wanted me to call you to come in and play your piano so he can get started on it. Have it set up next door in the vacant space. You can come and go as you please and won't bother a soul in the store!"
Gale says, "Lynn, you're kidding!"
Lynn says, "Nope, I'm not. It's here. Come on down!"
Gale says, "O.K.!, I'll be right down!"
That afternoon (after almost
having a wreck on the way to the store) while Bear is playing
and noodling on the Baldwin
in the store and thinking to himself:
"Not bad. Wow, concert grands do have some power." I banged on it hard. "Wow." I grew depressed. "Was this right for me? I really want a $%<>@**####!$%% American Steinway....!"
I dropped my shoulders and relaxed. I let my fingers roam the keys which felt different from Steinway keys. This was my third playing on a Baldwin grand. Hum...I started getting into the tone.. It wasn't what I expected, it was different, a different tone, a different, but not bad touch. It was a lot lighter touch than the last artist Baldwin I had played. And the tone was different from the first two I had played. I remembered that nice 1952 Baldwin that I really thought a lot of. This one had just come in from Oklahoma. I knew it hadn't even been tuned after the move.
When I relaxed with the preconception that this wasn't a Steinway, it didn't feel like a Steinway, and could never be a Steinway, and realized that there were some good tones and colors in the rascal that I had to bring out, I really relaxed on the instrument and my technique improved. I felt and played tones and colors within the instrument, and started composing a tune.
The instrument guided the piece. The instrument was already fairly easy to play, and it spoke to me, "Hey, Stupid Bear! Give me a chance, I got stuff! You'll see!"
I "grew up" composing the new piece on this foreign, unknown Baldwin grand piano. I composed the whole piece in less than 45 minutes on my the first visit to this rascal. My gut told me that this strange piano was right for me. I still didn't like the way it played entirely. But there was a tone that grabbed me, very unexpectedly. I didn't fully like all of the tone...but Frank and I improved on it before it was delivered to my living room. It became a Hennessy Baldwin with Balls with Frank's touch... and a cure for my "Steinway Syndrome".
It's fun owning a Baldwin concert
grand with "Balls" that plays as easily and as delicately as what I thought
I wanted in a Steinway. Ain't like no Baldwin you played, Baby! Would I
get rid of my Baldwin. No. Do I still want a Steinway? The right one, yes!
Who the heck says you have to have just one pianoforte! I already have
three! But, I don't have to have a Steinway to be me anymore....and, that's
the difference. The piece I composed that afternoon is named, "Baldwin
Mystique," in honor of my graduation to a higher plane of tonal acuity.
Yes, I do love Steinways! And Yamahas! And Bechsteins! And Mason &
Hamlins! And Faziolis! And Bösendorfer! And Flipsnoofle-Woofendoofles,
if they are built well, look good, play well, and have exquisite tone!
Most men my age buy a red sports car when they hit 40....not me! I buy a Hennessy Baldwin concert grand, a Yamaha Disklavier, and music notation programs as well as beef up my home computer like it was a Branson Music Studio. At least this stuff is not in the driveway for the neighbors to see as my mid life crisis.
Oh! yes, I'm past the 40 something crisis now. I just have to convince Paula that we really do need another concert grand for the touch and tone... one for the Living Room and one for my Music Studio... the best of both worlds!
Don't you agree?
Have Fun Playing Your Piano!
I do.
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