Please click on photo to enlarge.
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Gerhard Adam of Wesel, Germany
Last update: 8 August 2005
Short history:
This fine family instrument (see features below) was purchased in August
1997 from two clinical psychologists in North London. The psychologists
had purchased the piano from an opera singer many years before and remarked
that they and their children had a good time with it. They remarked,"Considering
there were already so many fine English makers of piano in this country,
imports had to be very good indeed."
In the purchase decision of 1998, this piano was chosen over a restored
Pleyel grand and a 5 ft Boersendorfer. The dark brown colour blends warmly
with other furniture in a home.
This piano was moved to Great Peter Street in Westminster. A month later,
the piano was moved to Vincent Square where it lived on the third floor
for nearly a year before being moved to Ealing London where it stayed
for nearly 7 years before being sold to a piano teacher in Shepherds Bush.
The piano has been the main feature of many cozy
home concerts.
About the piano maker:
Gerhard Adam of Wesel commenced business in 1828 in the small town of
Wesel, Germany at the beginning of what was to be called the Golden Age
of Pianos. Older piano technicians will most certainly have heard of Gerhard
Adam.
First mentioned in 8th century, Wesel joined the Hanseatic League in
1407. It is 50 miles north from Duesseldorf and 30 miles south from the
Netherlands border, between Arnhem and Essen. Situated on the Rhine River
near the mouth of the Lippe, Wesel came under the control of Brandenburg
(of the famous Brandenburg Concertos to which JS Bach attributed the name)
in the 17th century. The town of Wesel was almost totally destroyed during
the second world war and thus the demise of the factory. For more information,
please visit
this site.
Features and attributes:
- serial number: 22304
- built in 1920's in the golden age of pianos
- maker: Gerhard Adam of Wesel, Germany
- 5 ft 6 in
- gate-legged (2 legs per leg) - unique feature
- mahogany case
- modern (roller) action
- bright sound (listen to mp3 samples from CD
Baby)
- ivory keys to high C
This grand piano was used in recording the CD "In Pursuit of Flexibility"
which can be heard and purchased from CD
Baby
Related articles by Anne Ku, a past owner of Gerhard Adam of
Wesel
Click on score to listen to the mp3 file. Notice the unresolved passages signifying a reluctant parting. Making use of all 88 keys of the piano, I wrote it for the new owner to play on Gerhard Adam, as a way for me to say goodbye. Anne Ku
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