Chopin's Last Piano Gets Its 19th-Century Features Back

This is a way cool story. Restoring something from almost two centuries ago is a helluva challenge. It's why there are so few real Hammond organs around as they can't be restored, just maintained.

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The last piano on which Frederic Chopin played and composed in Paris is being renovated by a U.S. expert who is giving it back its original mid-19th century characteristics.

Pleyel made the instrument, with serial number 14810, available to Chopin, already seriously ailing at the time, in the fall of 1848. After Chopin's death in October 1849, the piano was bought by his Scottish student and friend, Jane Stirling, who then offered it to Chopin's eldest sister, Ludwika Jedrzejewiczowa.

The piano arrived in Warsaw in 1850 — it still bears the red customs seal of Russia that ruled Warsaw at the time. It survived two world wars, including the destruction of the 1944 Warsaw Rising.

Given the provenance and the good condition of the instrument, McNulty said it is “priceless.

Texas-born McNulty says this is the “best preserved Pleyel piano in the world,” despite having quite a dramatic history. It was played, but treated well by Chopin's family and was not used for concert performances, also because of a failed renovation attempt.

It had most of its iron wire strings changed for much stronger and tighter modern ones during renovation in the late 1950s that destroyed its tone and put strain on the whole structure.”

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It’s a reply to: TheSpanishArcher

The restoration would be challenging, matching components, kudos to the restorers.

Hammond organs are amazing, I saw booker t live, what a cool cat.

Here is my favourite piece by booker t and the mga.

m.youtube.com...

a reply to: robsmith

My fave Hammond example of what that instrument was capable of is this Deep Purple jam from the early days of Mark 2. Jon Lord really took that organ to new levels. His Hammond at the time wasn't cut up, it still has the foot pedals and he uses them to great effect.