Curved Keyboard Piano...

[Corno Dolce]

A certain piano maker by the name of Walter Neuhaus has built a piano with a curved keyboard. Ergonomically, that is a wonderful idea. Visualise sitting at such an instrument - put your hands out as if to play. One's arms naturally arc to the right or to the left - you'll hardly have to shift or lean your body to reach the lower or higher notes. Here's the instrument in question:

http://users.skynet.be/P-ART/PARADISE/JOURNAL/JOURNL53/journ53.htm

Cheers,

CD

 

[rojo]

Yes, but then we wouldn't get any exercise. :lol:

Just kidding; that actually is pretty cool...

 

[greatcyber]

Wow! Now that's very interesting. Would love to play it.

Stephen

 

[Mat]

Jean Michel Jarre played this synthesizer with curved keyborad during one of his concerts (in London).

 

[methodistgirl]

Go to Stephen Foster's Memorial and museum and you will find all kind
of interesting instruments there. Cyber knows what I'm talking about
in Florida. Instruments like this piano.
judy tooley

 

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Ms. Judy,

Aha - the Jankó keyboard! They are supposed to be very easy to play - they never really took off amongst piano manufacturers. There is a Japanese company that builds electric piano/synthesizers with Janko keyboards:

http://www.chroma.jp/shop/e/

Cheers,

CD

 

[methodistgirl]

There are three pianos like that one in the museum. There are small
harpsichords, tall uprights, Grand pianos all sizes, a cello. and a pipe
organ the size of a hammond. This is some place.
judy tooley

 

[Contratrombone64]

And there's probably a jolly good reason it didn't catch on ...

 

[Corno Dolce]

Hi CT64,

Methinks that the reasons are not all too jolly - The piano manufacturers reticence over having to retool their production lines, redesign and remanufacture their product, and remarket their product = $$$ - Better to standardise so that no competition dare rear its head.

Cheers,

CD

 

[methodistgirl]

I never played a piano like that but it looks like it would be easier for my
short stubby finger reach an octive better.
judy tooley

 

[Krummhorn]

Curved piano keyboard looks interesting ... only what appears to be 85 keys though, not that I play any literature for that includes #86 to 88 ... :lol: ... Is there literature written that includes those topmost keys? I mean, on purpose?

I would love to sit at and try a Janko piano keyboard - looks very foreign for one who has learned on the standard keyboards we know of today ... but then, if the Janko had caught on, we would have all learned on that during our formal study years and would be quite used to it now.

 

[marval]

That Japanese one looks like a computer keyboard. I only have one good hand, so I couldn't play any of them.


Margaret

 

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Master Krummhorn,

If my memory serves me I don't think that literature was written with 85-key pianos in mind but literature hung with the development of the standard 88-key piano.

Cheers,

CD

 

[methodistgirl]

The piano in my picture is over a hundred years old. Oh Susanna was
composed on that piano.
judy tooley

 

[Soubasse]

Jean Michel Jarre played this synthesizer with curved keyborad during one of his concerts (in London).

I thought someone would mention Jarre's curved keys. The one he used in Barcelona was a slimmed down version of the Docklands 'board in that YouTube clip and it was properly rigged for live playing too. The larger keyed one that he used in the Houston concert was for triggering various lighting effects as well as notes. He also had a 'keytar' version of a curved keyboard which is probably less effective since your hands are in an altogether different position!

One of Jarre's players (I forget his name) regularly uses a synth with Janko keyboard on it and it's clearly seen in the Docklands show, La Defense and a couple of others.

Speaking of 85 vs. 88 keys, anyone aware of any contemporary repertoire written especially for Bosendorfer's extra bottom notes? (ie, the reverse colour keys below the bottom A on some of their elite concert grands which brings their key count to over 90).

Matt

 

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Soubasse,

Bosendorfer's model 275 with 92-notes and model 290 with 97-notes - yes, they are sweet. Rubenstein makes a 12'2" Concert grand with 97 notes:

http://www.rubensteinpianos.com/r371.html

Here's a vid with it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42SK83b4Sg4&feature=related

Back on topic: If my memory serves me, a lecture I once attended had a Piano pedagogue from Germany who mentioned that Ravel's *Gaspard De La Nuit* was written with the Bosendorfer model 290 in mind.


Cheers,

CD

 

[methodistgirl]

What a beautiful piano. I can see myself playing this big concert grand
while the top musicians peck away on the little Steinway. I can imagine
hearing a rich tone with the strings being longer like that.:grin:
judy tooley

 

[Contratrombone64]

I remember the Sydney Conservatorium had an extended range grand piano. With an extra octave (not quite) extending the lowest note to a C (below the standard A of most pianos). These bottom keys were reversed in colour (black for naturals and whites for sharps/flats).

 

[methodistgirl]

For all you organist I have this for you.YouTube - Toccata Fugue in D minor ~ FAO Schwarz Big Piano
judy tooley :grin:

 

[keyboard builder]

The newest curved musical keyboard

I was pleased to find this reference to a piano I had only seen a few times before. I periodically check internet searches to see if anything new is coming out. That is because I am building one. It has 481 keys on 3 levels, (four manuals), organ pedals, a MIDI xylophone, chimes, drum pads, and other triggers. I am hoping to complete this prototype within a year or two. Feel free to check out the photos/albums/keyboard project at my facebook profile and let me know what you think. http://www.facebook.com/#!/DouglasAHall