I started off this blog in March with the intention of trying to put into words my reasons for getting and my experiences in playing a Stuart piano. This was not so much a egotistical and self-congratulatory exercise (although obviously as I stated I have been able to achieve much of what I set out to do, eye problems notwithstanding) but to try to counteract much misinformation and misunderstanding about the why's and wherefor's of the piano.
As I went along it became clear that much of that misunderstanding was due to the inability of people to make the quantum leap necessary to move from a traditional 19th century-inspired instrument to one which quite deliberately set out to be different and to break the shackles as it were to allow pianists to totally reinvent the way they interpreted the music they played – from the 15th to the 21st century.
By now, I’m familiar enough with the instrument to be able to see why many pianists can’t handle this and I’m certainly of the view that whilst not many people can afford to buy a Stuart piano, there are some people who
could afford to buy one, but most certainly
shouldn’t buy one in a month of Sundays.
Take this question from the Pianoworld fora.
“As an attorney, I ‘occasionally’ find myself amidst a snob or two (or thirty). One highly overcompensated member of a hyper-endowed gathering this past Saturday night is in the market for a grand piano, and was wondering what to purchase. His ‘decorator’ said to keep it under 7 feet (preferable around 6), and he wants to make a splash. He doesn't want something ‘as banal as a Steinway’.
Fyi -- he currently owns and drives a Bugatti Veyron and a Lamborghini Murcielago (among his several other "vehicles"), he lives in Greenwich, he (of course) is a hedge fund manager that seems to have avoided catastrophe in recent weeks, owns several Patek wristwatches, etc. etc. etc. He's really quite insufferable, come to think of it.
In any event, he wants to add a sub-7 foot grand to his ‘collection’. I suggested that he ‘needs a F212 Fazioli with a custom made artcase with his portrait inlaid.’ Did I do my friend justice? Oh, and he admonished me that he ‘isn't Liberace or Elton John, so nothing bejeweled’ would be acceptable."
There were a number of replies, advising various high quality pianos – for example “
I would suggest he either looks to purchase something highly unusual such as a Stuart and Sons”.
Good suggestion, or is it?
I had a god think about it in terms of my own experience and then realised that this whole thing was really just an exercise in cynicism of the Oscar Wilde variety, so I added my bit to the conversation as follows:
"My advice is simple and perhaps somewhat irreverant - but tell him not to buy one. The reason? Simple ... pianos are meant to be played, not looked at.
As an owner of a Stuart piano, there's no doubt in my (and many others) mind that Stuart pianos match and indeed exceed the criteria you have mentioned. But each Stuart piano is hand-crafted from top to bottom, and takes on the average twelve months until completion. Each piano is unique - no two are alike, and great care is taken to set up and voice the piano properly before it leaves the factory. Making top quality pianos is a labour of love for those who do it. Now would you like to spend twelve months of very patient and delicate work only to have the instrument sit in some admittedly splendid surroundings and never get played to anywhere near its potential? Sure, your hip pocket may be happy but that would be the only part of your body that is.
Tell him to buy a cheap Asian clone with a pretty veneer and I guarantee very few would notice the difference - because I doubt that the thing would ever get played."
Imagine someone buying a Stradivarius or Guarneri violin and putting it in a display case. I imagine it does happen, unfortunately. I have no gripe with art collectors doing similar things as long as they display their acquisitions appropriately. But to buy an expensive hand-crafted piano simply for show would be an absolute anathema to me.
If I were a salesman of such pianos (and maybe its fortunate that I am not) said people would be straight out the door.
Good quality instruments are built to be played, not looked at. I must admit, however, that the Stuart piano I am fortunate enough to have can be played and looked at at the same time …