Read more: The ‘invalid piano’ for bedridden individuals was a real-life 1930s musical invention Apart from the extra keys, the piano closely resembles a standard concert grand piano. Hribar’s review (watch above) reveals the rich sonority and resonance of the piano, which is enhanced by the piano’s size and structure. This piano with extended bass strings was invented in New Zealand to enhance the instrument’s lower range a few years back, while this innovative Japanese design took away all the black keys to produce a piano that looks striking and only plays in one key.Īustralian pianist and composer Ashley Hribar had a go on the nine-octave Stuart piano, demonstrating its twinkling top octaves and profoundly deep bass range.
Steinway’s model has been the standard ever since.Īustralian maker Wayne Stuart isn’t the first piano maker to produce an instrument building on the range of the Steinway standard, though. Romantic composers and piano virtuosos like Chopin and Liszt made music that continued to demand more from the instrument, and by the late 1880s, piano manufacturer Steinway had created the 88-key piano.
