Erard Repairs

Tom Tuner · Post by **Tom Tuner** » 23 Jul 2007, 18:50

A resident of Britain has remarked, on another forum, that he can find no one capable of restoring his Paris Erard and will have to send it to the Continent. I thought this was nonsense. Any comments on the availability of competent experts on vintage and antique pianos of French persuasion?

Tom Tuner

David B · Post by **David B** » 24 Jul 2007, 09:12

I should think that there are quite a few. This is a specialist in 19th century and earlier pianos near me www.periodpiano.com

There is an Erard workshop in Paris that has all the original equipment and patterns, and can replicate hammers etc, so a proper restoration should not be beyond the with of man.

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 24 Jul 2007, 17:20

We have lost a few so the ones we do have are in demand. I would think that price would be a big factor for going to France

I bet with the high pound at the moment it would be cheaper to send a piano to the US for restoring than do here in the UK

Barrie,

Byrolinda · Post by **Byrolinda** » 19 Sep 2007, 15:33

I have just returned from a visit to Maison Erard in Amsterdam which was amazingly inspirational. Frits Janmaat, who is the world expert on Erards (particularly the Paris models) has over 40 of these wonderful beasts in stock in his very smart showroom/ concert venue. In my opinion any pianist worth his/her salt should spend some time with a properly restored Erard grand exploring the huge range of tone colours they can produce. Yes, the technique is different ... the player has to listen to the instrument and draw out its sounds rather than just hammering away as, unfortunately, so many performers accustomed to Steinway do, but the rewards are amazing. Unfortunately inappropriate playing and recording techniques do them no favours somehow reducing their lustrous singing qualities to a pub-piano clank. Considering that virtually all the great piano repertoire was written for Erards ... and I do not accept that Chopin, Liszt, Brahms, Ravel etc were just making do with an inferior instrument because there was no other option ( in fact Brahms returned the instrument given to him by Steinway explaining that the sound was far too muddy and confused) it seems sad that they are not more highly prized these days. Vocal and orchestral music has moved towards cleaner, more brilliant tone colours over the last 30 years or so, and it seems surprising that the Erard sound should be considered as an historical curiosity rather than a means of revitalising tired old repertoire as has happened in the vocal, orchestral and ensemble fields.... And fewer pianists would suffer the injuries brought on by pounding away at heavy actions ...

David B · Post by **David B** » 21 Sep 2007, 09:15

Totally disagree with this. My piano teacher has one of these old clangers, and though it is capable of producing a good sound, the action is difficult, and it just doesn't have the dynamic range of a modern piano. Its very frustrating as I have a Yamaha C3 which runs rings around the Erard.

That said, I went recently to the Steinway showroom in London, and they had a couple of fully rebuilt late 19thC grands. They had everything done to them: new action, new soundboard, the lot. To all intents and purposes they were new Steinways, but they didn't stand up to the sound of the same, but modern models.

And as for tone colour, give me a Steinway D any day.

Erards sell for about £100 on eBay, and I reckon that's over paying.

Byrolinda · Post by **Byrolinda** » 24 Sep 2007, 08:08

Thanks for comments, David. Actually I played a Paris Erard yesterday which was awful .. it is in a National Trust property and has been 'restored' at considerable cost by a local guy. .. Oh dear! To me this is a great problem .. they are either suffering from 100years' worth of wear and tear, or are inappropriately restored by guys more accustomed to the 'Steinway' type of instrument. I just wish more people had the opportunity to hear and play a properly set up Erard concert instrument (preferably the Extra Grand model) .. I do recommend a visit to Frits Janmaat atMaison Erard, 91 Kaisersgracht, Amsterdam. As I write this I am listening to a recording of Liszt's B minor sonata on an 1889 instrument.It is truly thrilling. The tonal colours are SO vivid and I must disagree about the dynamic range ... even my own unrestored instrument has a wider range than my neighbour's new Yamaha.

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 25 Nov 2007, 01:21

Grand pianos (Yamaha or otherwise) would not be what they are today if it were not for Erard's action, so of course they work wonderfully for their age.