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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

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