The restoration of the

Erard grand piano

is progressing

A late-Romantic Erard grand piano from the collection of the Musical Instrument Fund was in urgent need of restoration: the soundboard was riddled with cracks, the tone was shrill, and the tuning pins were very loose. Such a beautiful instrument must remain playable and be able to make its mark once again! The team at Andriessen Pianos & Grand Pianos is hard at work on the restoration and keeps us regularly updated.

News

1 February 2024 by Indy de Vries

Cherish

Last November, the Erard grand piano (Paris, 1858) arrived in Haarlem. The grand piano has survived for nearly 180 years, and for the past five years it has faithfully served students at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. However, previous repairs are no longer holding up. It is deteriorating rapidly. With restoration, the instrument can continue to be used at a high level for decades to come. Not only are we honoring the intentions of the testator, but in this way, the Musical Instrument Fund is also preserving cultural heritage. The grand piano will be restored to as close to its original condition as possible. In this way, the Musical Instrument Fund also contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage.

Take it all apart

Meanwhile, the grand piano is almost unrecognizable. The soundboard is open, the strings have been removed, and pins and nails are sticking out of every hole. The instrument’s soundpost is a major undertaking. Previous repairs using a thick layer of epoxy can no longer withstand the tension. Layer by layer, the parts have been carefully separated so that the sound parts are preserved. The soundboard is slowly being rebuilt using new, kiln-dried beech wood.

In the video below, Bart takes you on a tour of the workshop (watch on YouTube):