American Piano Classics at Amazon
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I have serviced galore Chickering and Sons pianos over the years. As is the case with a lot of older primary piano brands that I have seen, some were in a state of disrepair and others were better maintained and devised rather a lovely tone. Chickerings normally have a full tone in the bass register but more or less less powerful in the tenor and treble as equated to other the brands; i.e. Mason & Hamlin, Steinway. They may be splendid instruments for the beginner, intermediate and innovative players. One of the visible divergences amongst Chickerings and Steinway or Mason & Hamlin’s is the cast metal plate and rim which is of a somewhat lighter design. Lighter tone or structure is not the same as saying that Chickerings were inferior. They weren’t. They were just designed and built with a dissimilar intention. In the United States, the late 19th Century was the Golden Age of the Music Industry. During the 1890′s, the music business was one of the top industries in America. It consisted of at least 2 – 300 piano makers, over 100 reed organ companies, various hundred musical instrument makers, (such as brass instruments) and printed music publishing firms. The piano industry was because of it is size, one of national importance. For example, President Grover Cleveland was the featured speaker at the opening ceremony for the Chickering Piano Company Factory in Boston in 1887. The factory was over 200,000 square feet and called a “marvel” by the President. Other piano manufacturers of that era include Knabe Pianoforte Company, Hazelton Piano, Steck Piano, Decker Brothers Piano Company, Mehlin Piano, Behr Brothers Piano, Strauch, Haines, Schuber, Victor Fletcher Piano, etc. Included in that group were Steinway and Kimball piano companies who were the only two makers to survive to date. One of the key developments that enabled companies like Chickering Piano Company to flourish for the duration of the late 19th century, were manufacturing improvements that had been instituted earlier in the century. The machine tool made it possible to precisely grind and shape metal parts. This led to interchangeable developing parts, which by the 80′s all the piano companies embraced. The assemblage line came next and by then broader production and output became popular along with lower prices. In 1885, a medium quality upright cost under $500. By the mid 1890′s, the price dropped in half. Of all the piano companies, Chickering & Sons was the most almost connected to the founders of the piano industry in the U.S. The Chickering family business started out with Jonas Chickering who apprenticed with the early piano maker, John Osborn until 1823. Then he set out to build his own pianos. Jonas Chickering partnered with John MacKay. MaKay was a more of a businessman than a piano builder – craftsman. MacKay with great success marketed Chickering pianos until the early 1840′s. Chickering had three sons who he had educated in the business and craft of piano building. Jonas partnered with his sons, Frank, George and Thomas in 1852 which is when they then renamed their business to Chickering and Sons Piano Company. Jonas Chickering bettered upon and patented the design of the Full Iron Plate in 1837. His oldest son Thomas Chickering helped lead the firm until 1871 until he died. Frank Chickering helped his father out at the 1851 Worlds Fair in London. Frank Chickering recognized the importance of New York City as a center of commerce and arts and opened facilities there. In addition, he built and opened “Chickering Hall”. Chickering Pianos were always awarded top honors, wherever they were exhibited. George, the youngest brother ran the Chickering Factory until his death at the end of the century. Chickering Piano Company was one of chief rivals of the Steinway Piano Company. By 1895, Steinway had well eclipsed Chickering in sales and reputation. Chickering and Sons was ultimately taken over by American Piano Company. A big number of Chickering and Sons pianos stay in people’s homes all around the U.S. to this day, in particular in the northeast. Most helpful customer reviews 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. But let’s face it, you’re considering buying it for Anderson! If you enjoy his shorter works, you’ll be thrilled by this, his only foray into longer concert music. Even it’s not that long for a concerto, but it’s almost twenty minutes of pure Anderson brilliance—even the second, supposedly andante, movement is lively and fun. It’s just too bad that Anderson himself did not record his concerto during his lifetime, since a comparison of his recordings of his shorter works to recordings done with other conductors leaves little doubt that his own vision of the concerto would have been even more dazzling. 4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. |
So Lovely, So Listenable, So Anderson
Anderson Piano Concerto Tuneful and Upbeat