Description
Theodore Steinway, president of the company from 1927 to 1955, recounts the history of Steinway pianos, through photos, illustrations, facsimiles of letters, and anecdotes about the piano and performers. He details the founding of the company by German immigrant Henry Engelhard Steinway, the architecture of the instrument through the years, and the piano's form in 1953. Bruce Stevens, the current president relates the company's history since 1953, new technology, dealers, and the site in Hamburg. Performers mentioned are Rubinstein, Paderewski, Rachmaninoff, Glenn Gould, and Dame Myra Hess, and one chapter is devoted to some of their autographs. Also included are personal reminiscences by Henry Z. Steinway, the last family member to be involved in the business. The original form of this book was written in 1953 to commemorate the company's 100th anniversary. It was given to employees only and not published for the public until now. There is no bibliography or index. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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(Amadeus). This is the story of how the Steinway piano came to be the instrument of choice for the world's greatest pianists. In 1953, Theodore Steinway wrote this narrative in longhand on yellow legal pads as a tribute to his father and to commemorate the first 100 years of Steinway & Sons. The book was a memento for employees and was never released to the public. This revised edition brings the history of this remarkable company to the present day through recollections of Henry E. Steinway, the last family member to remain involved with the company, and Peter Goodrich, vice president of concert and artist relations, who has been with the company for 30 years. In 1850, Henry Engelhard Steinway left Germany for New York City and established what was to become the standard of excellence in the piano world. Using photographs and anecdotes, this book chronicles the business from its beginnings through the Depression, when many piano manufacturers went out of business, through World War II, when the company was forbidden to make pianos, and through the advent of modern technology. Through it all the Steinway piano has prevailed as a symbol of quality. The Steinway artist roster is a living tribute to the company and its pianos. More than 1300 performers have publicly endorsed the Steinway because they believe in the quality of the instrument and will only play and perform on a Steinway.
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