Comments by "John Brereton" (@johnbrereton5229) on "World's oldest piano-maker goes upmarket" video.

Neutral Viewer Chopin was a protege of Playels and it was Playel who first recommended him to Broadwoods. When Chopin was 27 he actualy took him to London and introduced him to Broadwoods the largest piano manufacturer in the world at the time. Chopin then played for the Broadwood family at their home before returning to Paris. Later he lived at 46 Dover street London, he had 3 pianos from the leading manufacturers of the day, Broadwood, Pleyel and Erard. However, the Erard piano wasnt his, it belonged to Jane Sirling his pupil and it was made in London England not France. The only French piano he had was from his sponsor Playel which he loved. Playel and Broadwood were great friends who admired each others pianos but both disliked Erard.
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Neutral Viewer No, of course he didnt learn to play the piano from Pleyel????? But that is not the role of a patron of a protege. A protege is a person whose career is guided by a patron of knowledge and influence and for Chopin that was indeed Pleyel. However, Broadwoods were also very prized instrument makers in their heyday. In fact they were the worlds premiere makers for many decades and sold far more than their nearest rivals.Pleyel wrote to Broadwoods in the 1830s and told him Erards were only selling 200 per year to Pleyels 800. Though in this same time period Broadwoods were selling 3,000 per year. Nevertheless, of these three manufacturers, only Broadwoods still exist as a privately owned manufacturer of their own pianos. However, it's a fact of life that no one stays at the top for ever, younger manufacturers strive to take the crown. Though Steinways are not German, they are American and achieved their fame in America first by making a very loud piano that could hold their own on a large concert platform against an orchestra. In the days of Chopin, the audiences were far smaller and so volume was not what was needed.
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Neutral Viewer Facts seem to annoy you Natural Viewer. Chopin was indeed Pleyels protege, it's a well known and provable fact and is therefore indisputable. In the 19th century most pianodevelopment was based in Europe and leading this development for a considerable time was Broadwoods the pre eminent manufacture. That's why they were highly regarded by all the famous composers of their day including Beethoven who owned a Broadwood grand and composed his famous sonatas upon it. But towards the end of the century the leading innovation and developments started to appear in America, where Henry Steinweg immigrated with his sons in 1850. The Steinway company is decended from this Germany family called Steinweg. After the father and his sons moved to America they anglocized their name to Steinway . In America at that time their were many innovations being developed that Steinway incorporated into his pianos which made him very famous. So desirable were his pianos that they were copied in Germany by the leading makers like Bechstein. Though Steinwegs eldest son remained in Germany and partnered with another German maker called Grotrian to manufacture pianos under the Grotrian Steinweg name. However, I find it rather amusing that you accuse me of 'English Nationalism' when all I have done is recite the true history of the piano and the Illustrious role, that for a time Broadwoods, Pleyel and Erards played in its development.
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Neutral Viewer I never claimed Pleyel taught Chopin to play ffs ! Pleyel was his mentor and developed his career by not only provided him with pianos and introducing him to eminent people, he also organised concerts for him to showcase his talent on Pleyel pianos. When Steinweg and his sons went to America they were not famous manufacturers they actually worked for many different American manufacturers before they stated making their own. This is where they learnt many new ideas and techniques that they would later incorporate in their own pianos. The list of composers and musicians who played Broadwoods is unrivalled by any other manufacturer and is a very long and distinguished one. Including Handel, Haydon, Mozart, Beethoven,Chopin, Mendolsohn,Liszt, Wagner, Elgar, to name just a few.
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Neutral Viewer It's becoming obvious that there is no point in continuing this conversation with someone of such limit knowledge and intellect. Therefore, I shall leave you to dwell in the darkness of your overwhelming ignorance.
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