… is very difficult to reproduce in recordings for a number of reasons, in my experience including;
• The huge dynamic range of the instrument
• The tendency of recording (and mixing) engineers to equalise out the bass and treble, as well as limiting the dynamic range
• The quality and positioning of the microphones
I have, as has been detailed in this blog, on a number of occasions now recorded both my (at home) and other (at the factory) Stuart pianos and given my limited technical knowledge and recording gear, not to mention my limitations as a pianist, the sound has come out very well overall and people can clearly hear the qualities of the instrument as measured against what I might call the ‘status quo’ piano technology.
I am not an audiophile by any means, but I appreciate there are people with much more sensitive ears than mine who are capable of analysing the subtleties and nuances of recording and playback in a more sophisticated way, and those of such skill who have recorded the Stuart piano have produced sounds which quite frankly amaze me in terms of their clarity and quality.
The latest effort I’ve heard is no exception.
This is the latest demonstration CD from Stuart & Sons, recorded on the 2.2m and 2.9m 102-note pianos by Bill Risby and Kevin Hunt, both very well known jazz and improvisatory pianists, each of whom has a very good appreciation of the capability of the pianos, and also, of course, the ability to put this into practice.
I have to say, despite my obvious biases, that the sound is quite incredible. I would seriously advise anyone with an interest in pianos to contact Stuart & Sons via their website, and ask them to send out a copy of the CD. Play it on a good set of speakers, and turn the sound up. Some of it will send shivers down your spine in a way that you haven’t experienced before.