Grand piano

What it means

The grand piano (German Flügel) is the form of construction of the piano with a horizontally lying stringing and a wing-shaped case. The hammers strike the strings from below and fall back by their own weight, which allows a faster repetition than with the upright piano. Three pedals are usual: the right one lifts all the dampers, the left one shifts the keyboard so that fewer strings are struck, the middle one on many instruments holds open the dampers of the notes struck beforehand. The length of the instrument determines the length of the bass strings and thereby substantially the sound.

Musical use

Since the nineteenth century the grand piano has been the concert instrument of piano music, because in fullness of sound, dynamic range, and response it is superior to the upright. Its sound carries in large halls and at the same time blends well with orchestra and chamber-music partners. For older music, historical fortepianos are available alongside, whose lighter touch and slimmer tone make the repertoire of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries appear differently; the development from the early fortepiano to the present-day concert grand took place over several decades and without a sharp boundary.

Performance practice

Adjust the bench height so that the forearms lie roughly horizontal, and sit far enough away that the arms have freedom of movement. Use the right pedal as a means of sound and change it by ear at changes of harmony, not mechanically by beats; the ear decides, not the instruction in the score alone. Practise soft touch deliberately, because control is harder in piano than in forte. Open the lid according to the room and the scoring. Have the instrument tuned and regulated regularly, and keep room temperature and humidity as even as possible.

Remember that the room co-determines the instrument: in dry acoustics the touch needs more connection, in reverberant halls more separation and more sparing pedal. Before the concert, try out different lid positions and, if possible, listen from the hall. In chamber music, watch the placement, because the open lid gives off the sound directionally. Before playing, check the pedals for noises and the bench for a firm stand — both stand out unpleasantly in the concert and are easily remedied beforehand.