Grand Piano by Bertsche, J

Maker:
Bertsche, J
Number of manuals:
One
Year:
1821
Museum:
Royal College of Music
Date Range
1800-1850
Current Location:
United Kingdom
Material:
Walnut
Painter:
Pedals:
Five
Catalogue Number:
Origin:
Austria
Type:
Grand Piano
A Viennese grand piano of the first quarter of the 19th century, with a 6-octave compass, F1 to f4, and triple-stringing throughout. Viennese grand piano action. There are five pedals, from left to right: keyboard shift (Verschiebung: due corde); bassoon (Fagottzug) for the notes F1 to e1; dampers (Dämpfung); moderator (Pianozug: piano); moderator (Pianozug: pianissimo). The bassoon stop (a replacement) lowers a paper cylinder onto the strings, giving a rasping sound. The moderator pedal inserts tongues of cloth between the hammers and the strings, one layer for pedal 4 and two for pedal 5. The instrument is veneered in walnut; an ebonised lyre ornament is mounted on the yoke which carries the pedals and links the two front legs
Credit: Royal College of Music