 May, 2000
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Piano 300by Gail SmithPIANO-300 is the name given to the special exhibition of pianos now on display in Ripley Hall which is located outside of the Smithsonian Institute's Museum of American History in Washington D.C. The exhibit hall is three floors underground. The display of important pianos is open to the public from now till March 4, 2001. One of the earliest pianos invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori is there for the duration of the exhibit thanks to the Italian government. It is a treasure. Another big attraction is the rhinestone concert grand owned by Liberace. A stunning square grand piano and a tiny black baby grand piano edged in gold were my favorites. Pianos, pianos everywhere! An unusual giraffe upright piano was interesting to see as well. A short video of important pianists such as Horowitz and Rubinstein performing on their pianos can be seen at the end of the tour. The gift shop has an assortment of miniature pianos for sale as well as t-shirts, assorted books and music. This is a MUST SEE if you are planning a trip to Washington D.C. For a taste of the exhibit, you can see some of my pictures. The Piano-300 exhibit is celebrating the three-hundredth anniversary of the invention of the piano. The invention of the piano was to musicians what the invention of the printing press was to writers. In 19th-century Germany, the purchase of a piano was of interest to the entire community. On the day the piano was to be delivered to the new owner, the town held a festival. A band of musicians headed the procession, followed by the proud piano maker, who was held on the shoulders of his friends. Flowers and wreaths decorated the horse-drawn wagon which held the precious new piano. Musicians, schoolmasters, and dignitaries marched in the procession. At last the piano arrived at its destination. The delighted new owners greeted the procession warmly. The local clergyman said a prayer, blessing the new instrument as well as its craftsmen. The mayor delivered an address; the schoolmaster, doctor, and other dignitaries gave speeches. Finally the men's chorus sang. When the piano was in its new home, everyone enjoyed a banquet and danced in celebration of the happy occasion. Unfortunately, our generation takes such purchases for granted today. We have such a great selection of pianos available today in all price ranges. The most expensive piano is the Yamaha Disklavier Pro 2000. It sells for $333,000.00. If you own a piano, make sure you have it tuned twice a year to keep it in tune. You may enjoy playing this month's downloadable music, a piece written three hundred years ago that was composed by Domenico Scarlatti. He is known as the "Father of Modern Piano Playing". He introduced the crossing of hands, the rapid repetition of a note, and far flung arpeggio passages in his more than 600 pieces.
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