Bösendorfer | Grand Piano with Double Keyboard | The Metropolitan Museum of Art (2024)

FAQs

Why are Bösendorfer pianos so expensive? ›

Bosendorfer is the only piano manufacturer that does not use kilns to dry any of the wood used in the production of their pianos. All Bosendorfer woods are naturally dried – a slower and far more expensive process than kiln drying as it requires far greater wood inventory.

Imperial Line

Gazing at the extra black keys of this Bösendorfer Grand the pianist immediately realises that this instrument is far from ordinary. This Grand Piano – like the bigger brother 290 Imperial – has been crafted dedicating to the tradition of Viennese piano building.

They are distinctive in both appearance and sound, and are considered to be among the best pianos in the world.

The difference is in the design and the woods used

Specifically, the Bosendorfer has a jointed rim comprised of vertical slats of spruce--the same softwood used in other piano soundboards, including Steinway-designed brands like Boston.

Fazioli pianos are seen as consistent, brighter and balanced in tone. In particular, the bass range has a lot of power. Overall the tone of a Fazioli can be best described as clear. In contrast, Steinway pianos produce more warmth, notably in the bass section.

The famous Bösendorfer Sound – its sonorous and warm bass, angelic and brilliant in descant, a breath-taking spectrum of colours within the middle range – is our trademark. The sound symbiosis of artistic play and technical refinement is destined to excite the audience.

Almost 300 of these premium pianos are made each year.

Ludwig accepting the challenge designs and crafts the first Bösendorfer Concert Grand 290, which later shall become known as the Imperial. The tonal range of 8 full octaves allow for the additional needed bass and a particularly orchestral sound experience.

There is an order of the keys in terms of difficulty, and it is counterintuitive. The most difficult key is C major! In general, the keys that are easiest to learn are simultaneously the least natural for the hand. As a rule of thumb, the more black keys in a given key signature, the more comfortable it will be.

Bösendorfer Klavierfabrik GmbH) is an Austrian piano manufacturer and, since 2008, a wholly owned subsidiary of Yamaha Corporation.

What piano does Billy Joel use? ›

Music is music.” He's unequivocal about his preference for Steinway pianos to tell his musical stories. “Guitarists talk about their guitar like it's a woman...they talk about the wood and the shape,” Joel has said. “It's the same thing with these pianos.” He speaks as a man in love.

There used to be a saying “a Steinway for the concert hall, a Bechstein for the theatre and Blüthner for the home.” There is a lot of truth in this, as Steinways generally aim for a big powerful tone, Bechsteins for a more subtle tone but still quite powerful, and Blüthner very much more mellow, usually with a lighter ...

In 1909, at Ferruccio Busoni's request, Bösendorfer added nine extra keys to extend the bass range of its pianos.

The Bösendorfer Imperial features 97 keys: a full eight octaves.

What is the Golden Age of Steinway? The Golden Age of Steinway typically refers to the period of manufacturing during the 1920s and 1930s. As remains the case today, during this period Steinway pianos were sought after and considered the best fine pianos worldwide.