A short digression on composers, pianists and the instruments of their time. It is often forgotten that many of the great composers composed and played their great works on very early upright and grand pianos, which were very different from anything we hear on the concert stage or have at home today.
This chart gives a rough overview of when which makers had their time and thus when their instruments were used. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Chopin never got to know a Steinway, Blüthner or Bechstein instrument. Even Schumann could only have got to know Blüthner or Bechstein instruments in his last three years. And this is often portrayed differently in films.
So it is certainly interesting for many people to hear the music of these composers on the instruments that were available and used by the composers at the time. There are pianists who specialise in this - and have released interesting recordings.
Composers and pianists were and are of course always courted by the various piano manufacturers in order to capitalise on a preference for the instruments for advertising purposes. Steinway & Sons had already professionalised this very successfully before 1900 with its pianist and concert service programme.
In fact, pianists' and composers' declarations in favour of certain brands were often motivated by the fact that the manufacturers provided instruments for concert tours free of charge or that corresponding contracts were formulated. The signatures of many a composer and pianist can be found under texts formulated by the manufacturer.
Nevertheless, there was also a real enthusiasm and preference for certain manufacturers - or more precisely, for certain instruments from one manufacturer. The story of Glen Gould and his Steinway grand piano with the number CD318 is legendary. Vladimir Horowitz is also known to have taken his own Steinway grand piano with him on all his travels. Secretly, pianists have always played on other grand pianos from other manufacturers. And why not?
