The Bösendorfer Model 290 Imperial, or Imperial Bösendorfer (also colloquially known as the 290[1]) is the largest model and flagshippiano manufactured by Bösendorfer, at around 290 cm (9 ft 6 in) long, 176 cm (5 ft 9 in) wide, and weighing 552 kg (1,217 lb).[2] It has an eight-octave range from C0 to C8. For 90 years it was the only concert grand piano in the world with 97 keys,[3] until it was joined in 1990 by the instruments of Stuart & Sons of Australia. Music critic Melinda Bargreen has described the Imperial as the ne plus ultra of pianos, while pianist Garrick Ohlsson dubbed it the "Rolls-Royce of pianos".[1][3][4]
Bösendorfer built the first Imperial in 1909, following a suggestion by composer Ferruccio Busoni to build a model with an extended range.[2] Busoni sought to extend the range to accommodate his transcription of Johann Sebastian Bach's organ works. In order to emulate the 32 foot registers available on some large organs, he needed the entire octave down to C0.[5]
The Bösendorfer Imperial features 97 keys: a full eight octaves. This is in contrast to their other extended model, the Bösendorfer 225, which has 92 keys (down to F0). The extra keys, which are all at the bass end of the keyboard (that is, to the left), are colored black so that the pianist can tell them apart from the normal keys of an 88-key piano. They were originally covered with a removable panel to prevent a pianist from accidentally playing the extra notes. While the keys are seldom used, the extra bass strings create additional harmonic resonance that contributes to an overall richer sound. Compositions have been written specifically to utilize the extra keys.[1][2][6] Pianist and University of Washington School of Music director Robin McCabe explains the challenge of adjusting to the extra keys: "One's 'southern sight-lines,' so to speak, can be seriously skewed because of the extra footage in the bass. Ending a piece such as Debussy's L'isle joyeuse, for example, with its nose-dive final gesture to the low A of the piano, becomes a bit more problematic when that A is not the lowest note on the piano!" Reportedly, "[the] 290 has proved a bit of a temperamental star, sounding harsh and jarring in the hands of pianists who do not understand how to play it and marvellously refined in the hands of those who do".[1]
Pricing and availabilityedit
Bösendorfer Imperial Concert Grand pianos, handcrafted in Austria, retail for between US$256,000 and $560,000 in the U.S., depending on finish, design and whether the Disklavier Enspire computer reproducing system is installed.[7] (Bösendorfer's CEUS reproducing system, "Create Emotions with Unique Sound", developed in-house, is more expensive still.) In 1977, the price was reported to be $35,000,[8] $176,000 in 2023 adjusted for inflation.[7][3]
While the concert piano market is dominated by Steinway & Sons, which signs prominent artists to a performance agreement and urges them to refrain from playing any other piano brand, performers preferring the Bösendorfer Imperial will often have that piano shipped with them while on tour.[4]
^ abFine, Larry (2016). . Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
^Stern, Ellen (6 June 1977). "Best Bets". New York. 10 (23): 68. ISSN 0028-7369. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
^Hickling, Alfred (March 4, 2010). "Charlemagne Palestine – a man who plays the whole building". The Guardian. London. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
^Young, La Monte (1987). "Notes on The-Well Tuned Piano". The Well-Tuned Piano: 81 x 25 6:17:50-11:18:59 PM NYC (Media notes). La Monte Young.
^"Item 468: Frank Zappa Bossendorfer Grand Piano". . Julien's Auctions. 4 November 2016. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
External linksedit
Bösendorfer piano company official site of the Bösendorfer piano company
BosendorferImperial.com site dedicated to the Imperial pianos, with complete audio files of songs, images, history, specs
(in German)
Photos of a Bosendorfer Model 290 Imperial Grand Piano Extra Keys
January 01, 1970
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The Bosendorfer Model 290 Imperial or Imperial Bosendorfer also colloquially known as the 290 1 is the largest model and flagship piano manufactured by Bosendorfer at around 290 cm 9 ft 6 in long 176 cm 5 ft 9 in wide and weighing 552 kg 1 217 lb 2 It has an eight octave range from C0 to C8 For 90 years it was the only concert grand piano in the world with 97 keys 3 until it was joined in 1990 by the instruments of Stuart amp Sons of Australia Music critic Melinda Bargreen has described the Imperial as the ne plus ultra of pianos while pianist Garrick Ohlsson dubbed it the Rolls Royce of pianos 1 3 4 Imperial Bosendorfer in the Music Hall of the University of Bamberg Contents 1 Extra keys 2 Pricing and availability 3 Notable composers and performers 4 References 5 External linksExtra keys editBosendorfer built the first Imperial in 1909 following a suggestion by composer Ferruccio Busoni to build a model with an extended range 2 Busoni sought to extend the range to accommodate his transcription of Johann Sebastian Bach s organ works In order to emulate the 32 foot registers available on some large organs he needed the entire octave down to C0 5 The Bosendorfer Imperial features 97 keys a full eight octaves This is in contrast to their other extended model the Bosendorfer 225 which has 92 keys down to F0 The extra keys which are all at the bass end of the keyboard that is to the left are colored black so that the pianist can tell them apart from the normal keys of an 88 key piano They were originally covered with a removable panel to prevent a pianist from accidentally playing the extra notes While the keys are seldom used the extra bass strings create additional harmonic resonance that contributes to an overall richer sound Compositions have been written specifically to utilize the extra keys 1 2 6 Pianist and University of Washington School of Music director Robin McCabe explains the challenge of adjusting to the extra keys One s southern sight lines so to speak can be seriously skewed because of the extra footage in the bass Ending a piece such as Debussy s L isle joyeuse for example with its nose dive final gesture to the low A of the piano becomes a bit more problematic when that A is not the lowest note on the piano Reportedly the 290 has proved a bit of a temperamental star sounding harsh and jarring in the hands of pianists who do not understand how to play it and marvellously refined in the hands of those who do 1 Pricing and availability editBosendorfer Imperial Concert Grand pianos handcrafted in Austria retail for between US 256 000 and 560 000 in the U S depending on finish design and whether the Disklavier Enspire computer reproducing system is installed 7 Bosendorfer s CEUS reproducing system Create Emotions with Unique Sound developed in house is more expensive still In 1977 the price was reported to be 35 000 8 176 000 in 2023 adjusted for inflation 7 3 While the concert piano market is dominated by Steinway amp Sons which signs prominent artists to a performance agreement and urges them to refrain from playing any other piano brand performers preferring the Bosendorfer Imperial will often have that piano shipped with them while on tour 4 Notable composers and performers editTori Amos Wilhelm Backhaus Paul Badura Skoda Victor Borge Malcolm Frager Keith Jarrett Valentina Lisitsa Garrick Ohlsson Charlemagne Palestine 9 Oscar Peterson Terry Riley Carol Rosenberger Andras Schiff Wibi Soerjadi Cecil Taylor La Monte Young 10 Frank Zappa 11 References edit a b c d Bargreen Melinda 24 May 2002 Incredible Instruments Some find Bosendorfer pianos grand indeed The Seattle Times Retrieved 3 Mar 2024 a b c Model 290 Imperial Bosendorfer Archived from the original on 11 November 2013 Retrieved 26 March 2010 a b c Bosendorfer Imperial Grand Piano George Fox University Archived from the original on 2021 11 09 Retrieved 2018 03 13 a b Wise Michael Z May 9 2004 Piano Versus Piano The New York Times Retrieved March 23 2008 Concert Grand 290 Imperial Boesendorfer Retrieved 2018 03 13 Bosendorfer Imperial Grand Piano University of Wisconsin Eau Claire 12 November 2014 Archived from the original on 24 December 2017 Retrieved 20 November 2014 a b Fine Larry 2016 The Definitive Piano Buying Guide for Buying New Used and Restored Acoustic Pianos and Digital Pianos Acoustic amp Digital Piano Buyer Archived from the original on September 2 2017 Retrieved September 2 2017 Stern Ellen 6 June 1977 Best Bets New York 10 23 68 ISSN 0028 7369 Retrieved 26 March 2010 Hickling Alfred March 4 2010 Charlemagne Palestine a man who plays the whole building The Guardian London Retrieved March 11 2010 Young La Monte 1987 Notes on The Well Tuned Piano The Well Tuned Piano 81 x 25 6 17 50 11 18 59 PM NYC Media notes La Monte Young Item 468 Frank Zappa Bossendorfer Grand Piano Property from the Estate of Frank amp Gail Zappa Julien s Auctions 4 November 2016 Archived from the original on 6 June 2017 Retrieved 12 June 2018 External links editBosendorfer piano company official site of the Bosendorfer piano company BosendorferImperial com site dedicated to the Imperial pianos with complete audio files of songs images history specs Bosendorfer model 290 Imperial in German Photos of a Bosendorfer Model 290 Imperial Grand Piano Extra Keys Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Imperial Bosendorfer amp oldid 1221162870, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
