Bechstein: Fit for a King (and Queen)

Posted on Apr 5, 2012 in Featured Products, Piano Blog | 0 comments

What kind of sound does european royalty prefer? History tells us that Bechstein was the impeccable sound Queen Victoria requested (a gilded grand piano to be exact). If you are looking for extraordinary, look no further than European piano brands. However, Bechstein pianos have caught the eyes (and ears) of many people to be one of the world’s best.

Carl Bechstein started his journey of piano-making in the year 1853. The builder’s company has come a long way since then. Bechstein began realizing that there was a strong need for flexibility in pianos, especially for the vigor of the virtuoso coupled with a delicate sound. Thus, the pianoforte that was built, C. Bechstein, became superior throughout many concert halls and estates. In addition, the C. Bechstein won gold medals in a few different categories at the London International Exhibition in 1862. Around this decade, a couple of other piano builders were consistently becoming ranked the best with C. Bechstein including Blüthner, and Steinway & Sons. Queen Victoria even took note of the impressive piano that was C. Bechstein by requesting a grand piano in 1881, which allowed them to earn a Royal Warrant.

Production of C. Bechstein’s increased dramatically in the years between 1870 and 1914 as factories were prospering in Germany. Unfortunately, it was in the year 1900 when Carl Bechstein, the mastermind behind the brand, passed away. However, his sons then took reign of the company expanding it even further.

Though Bechstein was still synonymous with excellent quality, World War I and World War II immensely influenced the production of the pianos. WWI was the period when Royal Warrants were cancelled and german music as a whole was risking being completely boycotted. Production during WWII was significantly decreased due to bombing attacks on the factory and the craftsmen who were fighting in the war.

After the wars passed, C. Bechstein pianos would eventually return to full-time production and also climb up to the top spot of piano builders in the world. The success was a bumpy path; however, present times still show the success of C. Bechstein and the strong tradition it possesses.

Sources and more information:
http://www.bechstein-pianos.co.uk/tradition.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._Bechstein_Pianofortefabrik

The Sound of European Pianos: “That’s Amore”

Posted on Feb 21, 2012 in Piano Blog | 0 comments

Amore. 愛. Amor. Liebe. 爱. Amour. Любовь. Love.

All completely different ways of saying the word love. Did you know that each and every piano is also very different from one another? It’s true. When you think about it, pianos are like snowflakes, fingerprints, genes – anything that is unique. The differences between pianos come primarily from where they are built. The crème de la crème pianos come from the famous piano factories in Europe, especially Germany and Austria. However, European piano builders offer a wide range and diversity to fit your individual needs.

“Bechstein is for pianists as Stradivarius and Amati are for violinists.”

- Hans von Bulow, The first chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic

Piano companies in Europe have a rich history, which is why most piano experts will agree to their superior (more…)

Chinese New Year Sale 2012

Posted on Jan 26, 2012 in News & Events, Special Offers | 0 comments

BIG SAVINGS

Best prices on Kawai and Yahama pianos in Houston.

Now Through February 16

… ALSO …

European Pianos Discounted Up To %50

Famous brand name pianos like Bechstein, Brodmann, Perzina, Shultz Pullman, and Ritmuller are being heavily discounted from now until The Festival of Lanterns on Thursday, February 16. Do not miss out on these spectacular piano deals.