Debussy in the Snow in NYC

[George]

Was walking through Washington Square Park Today (it was about 30 degrees Fahrenheit) and a pianist was playing an upright Baldwin piano near the center of the park. Right there out in the sun, amongst the snowbanks - what a trooper! I took a few pictures and a video on my cheap phone and thought I'd share it with you guys. The sound isn't so great (downright historical sounding), nor is the picture, but it's the thought that counts, right?

Youtube Link

[Bogey]

Stinking cool, George!  Just pass it on to Mark Obert-Thorn and I believe we can start pressing cds.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Very nice. Only in NYC! But I was expecting "La neige dansant" from the Chidlren's Corner, or even better "Des pas sur la neige" from the Preludes.

[AndyD.]

Was walking through Washington Square Park Today (it was about 30 degrees Fahrenheit) and a pianist was playing an upright Baldwin piano near the center of the park. Right there out in the sun, amongst the snowbanks - what a trooper! I took a few pictures and a video on my cheap phone and thought I'd share it with you guys. The sound isn't so great (downright historical sounding), nor is the picture, but it's the thought that counts, right?

Youtube Link

Whoa, this is extremely cool.  It's alsokind of trippy, given the location. This guy might need money!

[karlhenning]

That cold dry air can't be good for the soundboard!

[George]

That cold dry air can't be good for the soundboard!

What's the soundboard? The wood that the strings screw into?

[karlhenning]

What's the soundboard? The wood that the strings screw into?

The wood whose vibration amplifies the sound of the string.

A sound board, or soundboard, is the surface of a string instrument that the strings vibrate against, usually via some sort of bridge. The resonant properties of the sound board and the interior of the instrument greatly increase loudness over the string alone.

The sound board operates by the principle of forced vibration; the board is gently vibrated by the string, and despite their differences in size and composition, the board will be "forced" to vibrate at exactly the same frequency, producing the same sound as the string alone, differing only in timbre. Although the same amount of energy is transmitted with or without the board present, the sound board, due to its greater surface area, is more readily able to transform this energy into sound. In other words, the sound board can move a much greater volume of air, therefore producing a louder sound.

Whole article here.

What I've found with the odd upright I've had long-term experience with in the past is, that degradation of the piano's 'voice' is sometimes an irremediable matter of the soundboard's having warped because of inconstant temperature and/or humidity.

[Henk]

Nice, George. How did he get that piano there?

[George]

Nice, George. How did he get that piano there?

He rolled it out there on two dollies. Like these:

[Opus106]

I want more of what he's playing. (Seriously, what's the name of the piece?)

Thanks for sharing that with us, George.

[(poco) Sforzando]

I want more of what he's playing. (Seriously, what's the name of the piece?)

That is Claire de Lune (Moonlight) by Debussy.

[Opus106]

That is Claire de Lune (Moonlight) by Debussy.

Thanks.

[Verena]

Really cool stuff  Thanks George!