George Sand and Frederic Chopin - 1838 A Portrait Divided

Painted by his friend Eugene Delacroix (1798-1863). Perhaps symbolic that this painting, the couple remained separated after death.
Delacroix and Chopin became close friends. In his journal, Delacroix wrote about pleasant evenings spent together. He often visited Chopin when he was ill. On April 7th 1849, the artist wrote, "Went with Chopin for his drive about half past three...We talked of music. It seemed to cheer him." Delacroix even shifted a piano into his studio so Chopin could play. Delacroix's painting of his friends, never finished, shows Chopin at the piano while George Sand listens. The painting was cut in half after Delacroix's death. Chopin's portrait hangs in the Louvre in Paris, while Sand's is in the Ordrupgaard Collection in Copenhagen, Denmark. No one knows why the portrait was cut. The seller may have hoped to make more money from two paintings instead of one

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P...opin_and_George_Sand

Modern hypothetical reconstruction of the painting:

Here's a photo of the bottom of an Erard Grand from the 19° Century. As you can see a 'tone-bar' is glued to the bottom which serves the purpose of voicing the soundboard to obtain a clear sound free of excessive bass-frequencies. If one considers that French Pianos, which were used almost exclusively by the vast majority of 'classical' composers and pianists in the 1800's, were also typically parallel-strung (Erard retained Parallel stringing until the early 1900's) it is evident that the sound-ideal of the times was that of a clear and vocal-sounding piano.

KOMITAS, SHUSHIKI
born on September 26 or October 8 (see discussion) 1869 in Kütahya, Ottoman Empire, died on October 22, 1935 in Paris, France, was an Armenian priest, composer, choir leader, singer, music ethnologist, music pedagogue and musicologist. Many regard him as the founder of modern Armenian classical music. Komitas lost his mind after witnessing the 1915 Armenian Genocide...
http://www.videofun.co.nz/vide...OMITAS-SHUSHIKI.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komitas_Vardapet

I can beat your Steinway double-keyboard piano
So says Michele Hanson..
http://www.guardian.co.uk/musi...eatyoursteinwaydoubl

The Craft of Piano Playing
One could say The Creation of Adam is needed therefore the piano...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Creation_of_Adam
http://craftofpiano.com/index.php

Piano Illusion Scarf

http://www.flickr.com/photos/83445680@N00/2368774811/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/83445680@N00/2368774913/

The music of geography: Ohio is a piano
http://www.cartogrammar.com/flash/piano/Piano.html

Piano Prop

The cat's whiskers: One contestant, complete with miniature grand piano
Some cages even had miniature grand pianos inside, and fairy lights, and tiny chairs.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/fem...h.html#ixzz0z9u0TsP0

quote:

Originally posted by Brian Becroft:
Piano Illusion Scarf

http://www.flickr.com/photos/83445680@N00/2368774811/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/83445680@N00/2368774913/

I think BeeLady has made one of these IIRC.

A 'Ship's Piano' by Schindler, Paris, ca 1950
An unusual Ship's Piano by Schindler, Paris, ca. 1950 with folding keyboard and knee-lever damper control

arm

New Bösendorfer Selection Center
The newly finished Selection Center in Wiener Neustadt makes selecting and playing the famous instruments a special sonic experience and is an important investment in the company’s future.
http://www.boesendorfer.com/en...-news.html?page=6180

Hello Kitty's mini baby grand piano

The miniscule music maker, which weighs in at 3.6 kg and is 18cm high by 25cm wide, features 100 jazz and classical standards built-in, and takes SD cards of music which it can automatically play on its 0.4cm ivories. The diminutive keys can also be tapped by hand, provided your fingers are disturbingly small.

Chile earthquake
Music teacher Claudia Vergara reacts over her damaged piano at her destroyed house in Constitucion, Chile. The 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck central Chile early Saturday killed hundreds of people and caused widespread damage. (AP

quote:

Originally posted by Brian Becroft:
Chile earthquake
Music teacher Claudia Vergara reacts over her damaged piano at her destroyed house in Constitucion, Chile. The 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck central Chile early Saturday killed hundreds of people and caused widespread damage. (AP

This really sucks...