For more than a century the piano has occupied a dominant place in music and society. Chicago piano store pianos in chicago used and new. According to the columbus dispatch, last year the estonia piano factory in tallinn exported 300. Estonia the pianists piano classic pianos of seattle is proud to have been selected as the exclusive representative for the toptierranked estonia piano considered by piano experts and connoisseurs to be the ultimate pianists piano ideal for serious musicians, schools of music, concert halls, and churches. Laurik from the tallinn piano factory is developing a minisized estoniaminion piano 163 cm in. Estonia pianos online store buy estonia grand piano new. Estonia pianos classic pianos of bellevueseattle, washington.
Acoustics, isma97, 1997, 19, part 5, book 1, 231238. The most notable of these manufacturers was ernst hiisihse, whose handmade piano from 1893. Here, ehrlich traces the instruments fascinating history from the fortepiano of mozarts time, and the victorians household orchestra and god, to the most sophisticated modern products of the japanese manufacturers. Their rapid ascent into top class of premium pianos is unparalleled in the history of piano making. Handcrafted estonia grand pianos casio celviano digital pianos.
The look of the ebony polish finish, made with the european, shiny polyester lacquer, is classic very elegant and very european. Scaling of the mediumsized piano estonia is considered in detail. Eesti, officially the republic of estonia estonian. Estonian music life and institutions gained momentum after the republic of estonia gained independence in 1918. Divide the performance group into 4 categories, highest quality, prestige, very high quality, high quality. This guide provides references to serial numbers, dates of manufacture, factory locations, a brief history of many manufacturers and other pertinent information. According to the piano book by larry fine, piano making in estonia goes back over 200 years under german influence, and from 1850 to 1940 there were nearly 20 piano manufacturers operating in the country. Your piano s age is one of the most significant factors in determining your piano s value. A celebration of the piano pianist and author stuart isacoff begins his new book, a natural history of the piano. Jul 12, 2008 the piano book by larry fine, an invaluable source on pianos, rates the estonia very highly, as high as any mason hamlin and schimmel pianos. Even the toughest piano industry critics on the web were largely agreeing that estonias prices, while continually higher through the 2000s, were well justified. Humans settled in the region of estonia near the end of the last glacial era, beginning from around 8500 bc.
Divide pianos into three groups, performance, intermediate, and consumer. Piano buyer is a semiannual piano buying guide that will help you make a fast informed decision concerning the purchase of a piano or digital piano. Eesti vabariik, is a country on the eastern coast of the baltic sea in northern europe. This book, made in estonia, provides the reader with some examples of the estonian economy. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. I have an upright piano and wanted to get a grand piano that is at least 57. According to the piano book by larry fine, pianomaking in estonia goes back over 200 years under german influence, and from 1850 to 1940 there were nearly 20 piano manufacturers operating in the country. That is fine unless, like me, you were looking for the previous 100 years since the very earliest fortepianos. Is the estonia considered to be a highquality piano by. The tonal range of the piano increased from the five octaves of the pianoforte to the seven and more octaves found on modern pianos. Piano buying guide the successor to the piano book piano. Due to small production and still affordable price, estonias have become one of the most in. A unique ensemble of eight outstanding classical concert pianists performing on four grand pianos. City of tallinn, where every estonia piano is handcrafted.
It is the most complex mechanical device in any home and is capable of fulfilling the players every musical wish. It protects the piano surface and lets minor scratches, if they were to come from using the instrument, to be polished out. Upright piano around 1780, the upright piano was created by johann schmidt of salzburg, austria, and later improved in 1802 by thomas loud of london whose upright piano had strings that ran diagonally. The instrument, the music, the musicians from mozart to modern jazz and everything in between. The estonian culture has one of the richest piano building histories in the world, dating back more than 200 years much longer than america boasts. Estonia pianos online store buy estonia grand piano. Estonia pianos and its unique place in the piano industry. Estonia this is a wikipedia book, a collection of wikipedia articles that can be easily saved, imported by an external electronic rendering service, and ordered as a printed book.
Oct 24, 2012 even the toughest piano industry critics on the web were largely agreeing that estonias prices, while continually higher through the 2000s, were well justified. Estonia is a highly regarded european piano with a rich tradition. List of books and articles about piano history online. History piano making in estonia was an art practiced during the late 18th century and has been documented as early as 1779. We have a huge selection of used and secondhand pianos for sale. Estonia continues the old traditions of european piano making. Other articles where history of estonia is discussed. According to the columbus dispatch, last year the estonia piano factory in tallinn exported 300 pianos both grands and baby grands, most of them to the united states. Each piano is manufactured with a unique serial number that is recorded for future reference of not only when it was made but also where. Updated and revised by the author to include recent developments, this book will.
The history of estonia forms a part of the history of europe. A fascinating celebration of the piano, including tales of its masters from mozart and beethoven to oscar peterson and jerry lee lewis, told with the expertise. Estonia this is a wikipedia book, a collection of wikipedia articles that can be easily saved, imported by an external electronic rendering service, and ordered as a. Most companies make vertical pianos and small grands, establish themselves, then build larger grands, ultimately earning the right to build a 9 concert grand model. Estonia pianos for sale buy a estonia piano at pianomart. The piano book by larry fine, an invaluable source on pianos, rates the estonia very highly, as high as any mason hamlin and schimmel pianos. The square piano, with strings parallel to the keys, was the most popular domestic piano until the early19thcentury perfection, in philadelphia, of the upright piano. In april 1951, the first estonia piano was presented to the state board. The english piano maker john broadwood 17321812 was the first to develop the present heavier, more sonorous instrument. The history of the piano traces back more than 3 centuries, and chronicles how the piano, most popular instrument in existence, continues to be the premiere instrument as we enter its fourth century. Click here for cordogans summary of estonia pianos. Most of those found in the uk date from about 1970 to 1990. The hundreds of changes were noticed and publicized and estonias rating on rose to the level of steinway, creating quite a buzz in and of itself. The craft had flourished, and during the late 19th and the early 20th century there were nearly 20 independent piano companies.
In 1950, by the order of joseph stalin, based on the peoples furniture factory, the tallinn piano factory was established, and the new piano was called estonia. Read free online, or purchase the 270page, fullcolor. Your pianos age is one of the most significant factors in determining your pianos value. Book of the grand old lady in estonian music composer ester magi. Its famous first volume, andres and pearl, draws in the reader with its compelling picture of the estonian way of life in the late 19th century, the narrative follows the inner struggles of the main protagonist andres as he works on his newly acquired farmstead, trying to build a future. In 1915, he sold his business and worked for other companies. When i reported on estonia pianos for the fourth edition of the piano book. In the country of estonia, the estonia piano company has its roots in the late 1800s when mr. Classic estonian composers such as rudolf tobias, artur lemba and artur kapp 18781952 fused melodies and harmonies from russian and western classics. In 1950 he was asked by the government to combine other smaller factories. Visit allegro pianos to hear, feel and play estonia pianos. Pdf the presentday state of piano manufacturing,in estonia is described based on the. Visit the top floor of the estonia piano factory in tallinn, estonia.
The history of the piano by elda dellinger nook book. Browse our available selection, or use our filters to refine your search by size, price, location, distance from you, or color. Its famous first volume, andres and pearl, draws in the reader with. It protects the piano surface and lets minor scratches, if they were. For the next 40 years the company was stateowned and made two grand models 190 and 273 in ebony or white finishes. Estonia became the golden child on the internet the piano brand to buy. The first invaders of the country were vikings, who from the mid9th century passed through estonia and latvia. When the first estonia pianos made their way to vancouver in the mid90s, i was immediately struck. Estonia pianos are a popular choice for students, home enthusiasts and professional musicians alike. Discover your pianos age and country of origin with our 5 star accuracy guide to ensure the quality and. Sales were centered on upright pianos since the grand pianos were too expensive in the economic situation. Cafe piano on the iii floor of port artur 2 shopping centre, you will find a cosy cafe with a grand piano when you enter the rahva raamat book shop.
The piano is an acoustic, stringed musical instrument invented in italy by bartolomeo cristofori around the year 1700 the exact year is uncertain, in which the strings are. Over 12,000 piano names are included, some dating back to the early eighteen hundreds. Before german crusaders invaded in the early th century, protoestonians of ancient estonia worshipped spirits of nature. The first historical mention of instruments is in genesis 4. A piano is one of the most expensive purchases a household will ever make, and buying a piano can be difficult, confusing, and time consuming. Heines piano factory was the sole producer of these parts in estonia. Ive heard that estonia is the same class as steinway but much better in price. Jan 01, 2011 a celebration of the piano pianist and author stuart isacoff begins his new book, a natural history of the piano. Ernst hiisihse handmade a piano that became the prototype for manufacturing. The second world war and the subsequent occupation of estonia by the soviet union stopped production of pianos in estonia. Piano buying guide the successor to the piano book.
The piano book is the bible of the piano marketplace. List of books and articles about estonian history online. The piano book by larry fine, an invaluable source on pianos, rates the estonia very highly. Probably a lot of you have, and on the other hand many others havent heard of the new kid on the block the estonia piano. In brief, this is a history of the modern piano after about 1850. Estonia makes 200 to 300 pianos a year, all grands, mostly for sale in the u. I really like steinway, but the price is a problem.
A brief survey of the development of estonian piano companies from the late l8th. The estonians are first mentioned by the roman historian tacitus 1st century ad in germania. The estonia factory was founded in 1893 by ernst hiis, the grand old man of countrys piano making. According to the piano book by larry fine, pianomaking in estonia goes back over 200 years under german influence, and from 1850 to 1940 there were nearly 20 piano manufacturers operating. Medici protege bartolomeo cristofori came up with the design in the late 17th century, but it was the playing and compositions of mozart in. If you are interested, there is one for sale in cleveland, oh. The piano supplanted the harpsichord because the action of its hammers on the strings could create sounds both piano e fortesoft and loudhence the name pianoforte, eventually shortened to piano. Tammsaares fivepart opus is considered by many to be the grounding classic of estonian literature. Our available estonia pianos include a range of types, costs and conditions. At cafe piano, you can enjoy a wonderful view, delicious coffee, snacks, healthy smoothies and specials from our chef. Their political system was patriarchal, based on clans headed by elders. I rate it very highly, and consider it as one of the best pianos available out there. This book tells you everything, and i mean everything, about the history of the piano.
Estonia grands have become one of the the most talked pianos of our time. The piano factory astron started with three workers and a manager on january 1, 1923. Sep 09, 2011 estonias rise, encapsulated in a pianos history a piano of estonian origin, bearing the countrys name, was popular in the soviet union but lost its prestige when the empire collapsed. Estonias rise, encapsulated in a pianos history a piano of estonian origin, bearing the countrys name, was popular in the soviet union but lost its prestige when the empire collapsed. Classical and contemporary music estonian music information. Last i heard, they have about 100 workers making roughly 500 pianos a year. Estonia piano factory also has the most unique product line and history in todays piano industry. In 1923, he became the leading expert and manager of the astron piano company. A piano of estonian origin, bearing the countrys name, was popular in the soviet union but lost its prestige when the empire collapsed. Mar 02, 2017 divide pianos into three groups, performance, intermediate, and consumer.