Fortepiano
ca. 1820 | Conrad Graf
Graf enjoyed good relations with leading musicians of his day. When Frédéric Chopin performed in Vienna in 1829, he decided to play on a grand piano made by Graf. Franz Liszt also used Graf’s pianos, not least due to their robustness. Graf enjoyed an association with Ludwig van Beethoven for many years. The piano now in the Beethoven House in Bonn, which belonged to the composer, displays similarities in its construction with the instrument shown here. In an endeavour to increase the volume of his grand pianos, Graf experimented with four-string courses. However, the dynamic effect was slight and the increase in string tension caused problems for the stability of the instrument. Only few of such pianos were produced. The instrument pictured here reputedly came to the Salesian monastery as a present from the Archduchess Sophie, the mother of Kaiser Franz Josef. It remained there until the end of the 19th century. (rh)
Lit.: Rudolf Hopfner: Masterpieces from the Collection of Historic Musical Instruments. A Short Guide through the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Vol. 1, Vienna 2019
Graf enjoyed good relations with leading musicians of his day. When Frédéric Chopin performed in Vienna in 1829, he decided to play on a grand piano made by Graf. Franz Liszt also used Graf’s pianos, not least due to their robustness. Graf enjoyed an association with Ludwig van Beethoven for many years. The piano now in the Beethoven House in Bonn, which belonged to the composer, displays similarities in its construction with the instrument shown here. In an endeavour to increase the volume of his grand pianos, Graf experimented with four-string courses. However, the dynamic effect was slight and the increase in string tension caused problems for the stability of the instrument. Only few of such pianos were produced. The instrument pictured here reputedly came to the Salesian monastery as a present from the Archduchess Sophie, the mother of Kaiser Franz Josef. It remained there until the end of the 19th century. (rh)
Lit.: Rudolf Hopfner: Masterpieces from the Collection of Historic Musical Instruments. A Short Guide through the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Vol. 1, Vienna 2019
Manufacturer:
Conrad Graf
Time:
ca. 1820
Object Name
Fortepiano
Culture
Austria, Vienna
Dimensions:
2430 mm x 1250 mm x 860 mm
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Sammlung alter Musikinstrumente
Invs.
Sammlung alter Musikinstrumente, 396
Alte Inv.Nr.:
KK_8972
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