Brodmann

The Joseph Brodmann Piano History

1828 was an important year in the history of piano making in central Europe. Ignaz Bösendorfer the most famous of all Austrian piano builders took control of the Joseph Brodmann piano workshops which was then considered to be the most innovative and modern piano factory in Europe and therefore the world.

Joseph Brodmann was born in 1763 in Deuna/Eichsfeld (today Germany, Thüringen). As a young man, he came to Vienna and became the apprentice of the well known piano builder Frederick Hoffman. By this time, Vienna had already been established as the centre of the musical world influenced by the music of Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert who all lived during his lifetime. Joseph Brodmann was one of the first and best known piano designers and craftsman of his time. In 1800, in the Lexicon of Musicians he was listed as “Joseph Brodmann – instrument maker, excelled in constructing horizontal fortepianos of solid finish“. In 1805 he was registered in the Court and State record department as an Organ and Piano maker.

His contribution to and inventions for piano design and piano making laid the groundwork for his most talented apprentice, Ignaz Bösendorfer whose pianos are still considered today by many as the finest pianos in the world. Joseph Brodmann was best known for his development work on piano soundboards. He is credited with greatly improving the necessary stiffness of the soundboard, so needed to withstand the increased string tensions demanded by the pianists of the day and therefore preventing the soundboard from tearing or splitting.

World famous musicians, composers and conductors, such as Carl Maria Friedrich Ernest von Weber purchased and endorsed Brodmann’s pianos. In a letter to his brother Weber euphorically praised his new Brodmann piano indicating it was the best piano he had ever played!

Brodmann Today

Today Brodmann’s world headquarters is still located in Vienna, Austria, not far from the original factory and only five minutes away from the famous opera house and the historic old town. The city, with its musical history as well as the heritage of Joseph Brodmann and his pupil Ignaz Bösendorfer, continue to influence the way Brodmann pianos are built to this day. The Joseph Brodmann Piano Group is a world wide company with corporate locations in Vienna, London, Hong Kong and USA.

Brodmann has appointed select dealers and technicians worldwide to provide the ultimate in service and assistance to our customers. Under the leadership of Christian Höferl, a former long time Director of Bösendorfer and Colin Taylor, a former Sales Manager at Bösendorfer and a concert technician, the Brodmann company is comprised of a highly experience team whose aims are to produce the highest quality pianos.

“My Brodmann grand sounds glorious, rich, full, singing and warm, loud and positively calorific.”
- John York, London

“My Brodmann grand piano – what a joy it is to play. Its full singing sustaining rich tone, its responsive touch and effortless playability makes the Brodmann piano an invaluable instrument, providing many delighted hours of playing for students and professional musicians.”
- Vesna Podrug, Vienna