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jcgray

Hello: I am a U.S. graduate student in the history of the decorative arts and all semester, I have been researching a Clementi upright grand piano (c. 1815) which was gutted and turned into a bookcase sometime in the mid-19th century. My question is, where can I find books and documentation about why tall (this one is nearly 9-feet high) upright grands fell out of favor by 1840. Would I be able to find info in some Broadwood or Clementi sites or papers? Thanks much.
Jackie Gray

Brian Lawson, RPT · Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 9:35 pm Post subject:

An "upright grand" from my observation is just a marketing term. A piano is a grand or an upright.

For your other point, I guess the technology in making pianos improved that manufactures realized they could make smaller piano, but then on the opposite side of the coin it is how manufactures were influenced by inferior desecraters, oops! sorry, I meant interior decreators, as seen in very small pianos.
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Brian Lawson, RPT
Johannesburg
South Africa
http://www.lawsonic.co.za

Bill Kibby · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2003 4:00 pm Post subject: Clementi

I'm afraid Brian's lost the plot here, this is a genuine, actual, real-life Upright Grand, (a grand placed upright) as made by Clementi, probably in the 1820s or 1830s. Why did they lose popularity? How you like to have a nine-foot tall piano? It's as simple as that, and the height became unnecessary as soon as they realised what seems obvious in retrospect, the space below keyboard level was being wasted!
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I do not buy, sell or value pianos, but I sometimes rescue pre-1890 pianos in the UK.

For more details see my own website: http://www.pianogen.org

Piano History Centre

The World's Largest Collection of
Historical Information about British Pianos.

jcgray · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 9:14 pm Post subject: Re: Clementi

Thanks. This makes lots of sense. Does anyone know if an archive of Clementi or Broadwood papers exists either on-line or as a book that someone in the U.S. can get?

Jackie Gray

Barrie Heaton · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 9:50 pm Post subject: Re: Clementi

Bill Kibby · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 10:03 pm Post subject: Archives

I was quoted 40 pounds. A book is in preparation. As for Clementi, look at the Archives item at PianoGen.org - This tells the situation with Clementi's successors, Collard.
_________________
I do not buy, sell or value pianos, but I sometimes rescue pre-1890 pianos in the UK.

For more details see my own website: http://www.pianogen.org

Piano History Centre

The World's Largest Collection of
Historical Information about British Pianos.

Underpants · New Member Joined: 03 Dec 2003 Posts: 1

I recently purchased an upright Grand Piano from the local Redknapps Piano Emporium, but it has a history of breaking down and needing to be laid on its back. Though the stool that came with the piano from the Louise collection was quite attractive, and the piano laid down with the stool is a good match, and I quite enjoy looking at it.

Bill Kibby · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 1:39 pm Post subject: Upright Grand?

Yes, but are you talking about an actual grand turned vertically, or simply an average old upright with "Upright Grand" written on the front?
_________________
I do not buy, sell or value pianos, but I sometimes rescue pre-1890 pianos in the UK.

For more details see my own website: http://www.pianogen.org

Piano History Centre

The World's Largest Collection of
Historical Information about British Pianos.