Cross-stringing

Cross-stringing

Cross-stringing (sometimes called overstringing) is a method of arranging piano strings inside the case of a piano so that the strings are placed in a vertically overlapping slanted arrangement, with two heights of bridges on the soundboard instead of just one. This permits larger, but not necessarily longer, strings to fit within the case of the piano.[1] The invention of cross-stringing in the 1820s is variously credited to Alphaeus Babcock[2][3] and Jean-Henri Pape[4]. The first patented use in grand pianos in the United States was by Henry Steinway Jr. in 1859.[5][6] In the late 19th century, cross-stringing gradually took the place of straight-stringing, in which all the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard and do not overlap.

The advantages of cross-stringing is that the case of the piano can be smaller, the bass strings can be longer and the placement of the bass strings is in the center of the piano case, where they receive more resonance than when placed at the side.[7][8][9]

Cross-stringing is criticized by some as producing a "murky" sound. According to the pianist Gwendolyn Mok, "If you look inside your own piano, you will notice that the strings are all crossing each other. With the straight strung piano you get distinct registral differences--almost like listening to a choir where you have the bass, tenor, alto, and soprano voices. It is very clear and there is no blending or homogenizing of the sound."[10]

References

  1. ^ A short history of the development of the piano, Dartmouth College
  2. ^ Piano History, www.concertpitchpiano.com
  3. ^ A Short History of the Piano by Alphonse Gunther
  4. ^ Piano History, www.ukpianos.co.uk
  5. ^ Alistair Riddell Towards a virtual piano action, NMA Magazine (1988)
  6. ^ A Brief History of the Piano, www.shafferpianos.com
  7. ^ A Guide to Piano Buying, www.pianoworld.com
  8. ^ Cross-Strung or Straight-Strung piano?, www.thepianoworkshop.co.za
  9. ^ Advice, www.pianomanpianos.co.uk
  10. ^ Gwendolyn Mok in Conversation with Thad Carhart, www.gwendolynmok.com

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • cross-string — /kraws string , kros /, v.t., cross strung; cross strung or (Rare) cross stringed; cross stringing. overstring. * * * …   Universalium

  • cross-string — /kraws string , kros /, v.t., cross strung; cross strung or (Rare) cross stringed; cross stringing. overstring …   Useful english dictionary

  • Piano — Pianoforte redirects here. For earlier versions of the instrument, see Fortepiano. For other uses of Piano, see Piano (disambiguation). Piano Bösendorfer grand piano Keyboard instrument …   Wikipedia

  • Alpheus Babcock — (1785 1842) was a piano and music instrument maker in Boston, Massachusetts and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the early 1800s. Babcock is best known for patenting a complete iron frame in a single casting used to resist the strain of the… …   Wikipedia

  • Piano history and musical performance — The piano has evolved technologically more than any other musical instrument,fact|date=June 2008 giving rise to difficult issues involving the performance of music written for earlier pianos.BackgroundThe earliest pianos by Cristofori (ca. 1700)… …   Wikipedia

  • Piano — Tesitura …   Wikipedia Español

  • musical performance — Introduction       step in the musical process during which musical ideas are realized and transmitted to a listener. In Western music, performance is most commonly viewed as an interpretive art, though it is not always merely that. A performer… …   Universalium

  • Strings (tennis) — In tennis, the strings are the part of a tennis racquet which make contact with the ball. The strings form a woven network inside the head (or hoop ) of the racquet. Composition The material used in tennis string can significantly change the… …   Wikipedia

  • Glossary of firefighting — Note: This list does not include firefighting equipment, i.e., tools and apparatus used by firefighters. Please refer to Glossary of firefighting equipment for such terms. : Note: This list is incomplete. You can help Wikipedia by… …   Wikipedia

  • tennis — /ten is/, n. a game played on a rectangular court by two players or two pairs of players equipped with rackets, in which a ball is driven back and forth over a low net that divides the court in half. Cf. lawn tennis. See illus. under racket2.… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”