grand piano

This Erard grand piano was bequeathed to the Musical Instrument Fund by a private individual in 2017. In 2024, this historic instrument underwent an extensive restoration carried out by the Andriessen firm in Haarlem. Piano expert Bart Houtgraaf, who oversaw the restoration project, discusses the restoration process in a series of videos available on the Music Instrument Fund’s YouTube channel.

The grand piano received an extensive “spa treatment” in Haarlem: it was soaked in a bath and underwent a true “de-resin” treatment! To separate the various layers of wood without causing damage, they had to be carefully loosened. Old cracks in the soundboard, which had been filled with epoxy resin during previous repairs, were stripped of the resin and filled with wood from an unused soundboard of another Erard grand piano. Epoxy does not last as long as wood and affects the instrument’s sound. The goal was to restore the grand piano to as close to its original condition as possible so that future musicians could continue to enjoy the instrument for many years to come.

The restoration holds great artistic significance: the preservation of musical heritage. Modern grand pianos, in fact, have a completely different sound than historical grand pianos. This is due, among other things, to the parallel arrangement of the strings and a different thickness of the soundboard in historical instruments. Thanks to this restoration, it has become possible to hear sounds from a bygone era.

The Amsterdam Conservatory currently has the Erard on loan, where it serves as an important source of inspiration for many students and teachers. Watch

the restoration videos here.
Photos
: Pablo Cantatore