- Stuart and Sons
Stuart and Sons is a manufacturer of handcrafted
grand piano s based in Maryville, a suburb of Newcastle,New South Wales ,Australia .Stuart and Sons pianos are known for unusual and innovative design features. The pianos normally have ninety-seven keys as distinct from the eighty-eight keys found on conventional
grand piano s.The pianos feature a "bridge
agraffe " string coupling device, which enables the string when struck by the hammer to vibrate vertically and for a longer duration than in conventional piano designs. This is said to lend the instrument superior dynamic and sustaining qualities when compared withconventional instruments.Their pianos are noted for their use of Australian timbers for construction, including Tasmanian
Huon Pine , Tasmanian black heart sassafras and Australianred cedar .Stuart and Sons pianos are found at many conservatoriums and concert halls throughout the country, including:
* The
Sydney Conservatorium of Music ;
* ThePowerhouse Museum inSydney ;
* TheCentral Queensland University Conservatorium of Music inMackay, Queensland ;
* The Conservatorium of Music of theUniversity of Newcastle, Australia ;
* The Great Hall at theUniversity of Sydney .The Dutch-Australian pianist
Gerard Willems exclusively used a Stuart and Sons piano when recording the complete piano sonata cycle ofLudwig van Beethoven during 1999 and 2000.Since 2000 the young British virtuoso
Mark Gasser also frequently uses the Stuart & Sons as his instrument of choice and has even reputed to have played all 4pedals at once.ee also
Australian piano manufacturers
Historic:
*
Beale Piano
*Wertheim Piano Current:
* Overs
External links
* [http://www.stuartandsons.com/ Stuart and Sons Company Website]
* [http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/opac/99-88-1.asp Powerhouse Museum]
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