| Communications and Development |  |
Published by Communications and Development
The University of Canterbury's School of Music will proudly launch its new fortepiano as part of the Platform arts festival later this month.
The purchase of the new instrument was made possible by money generously donated through the University of Canterbury Foundation.
The fortepiano is the historical precursor to the modern piano and was in use in different forms from its invention in approximately 1700 to the early 19th century.
Dr Roger Buckton of UC's School of Music says music students and audiences alike will now be able to hear music as the great composers originally intended.
“Music up to 1840 was written for the instrument, so students need to hear it on the authentic instrument to understand the music properly,” he said.
The fortepiano was handcrafted by Aucklander Paul Downie, a fortepiano maker of international reputation. The design is based on an Austrian instrument built by Conrad Graf in 1826 which is currently on display at the Vienna Musical Instruments Museum.
With a range spanning six-and-a-half octaves, the fortepiano created for UC is most similar to that used by composers Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann and Mendelssohn.
“This is the only fortepiano of its type in New Zealand. The few other fortepianos in New Zealand are ones based on instruments dating from approximately 1780 and are suitable only for music of classical composers such as Mozart and Haydn,” says Dr Buckton.
For those keen to learn more about the fortepiano and treat their ears to a most authentic musical experience there are three Platform events to mark on the calendar.
At 5.30pm on Friday 23 May Wellington-based musician Douglas Mews will give an illustrated talk on The Fortepiano – its history and repertoire in A6 lecture theatre at the University of Canterbury. On Sunday 25 May at 6pm in the Great Hall of The Arts Centre the instrument's maker, Paul Downie, will give an illustrated talk on Making a Fortepiano. Both talks are free to the public.
Then the instrument itself will be heard on Sunday 25 May at 7.30pm in the Great Hall of The Arts Centre. The Fortepiano in Recital will feature the fortepiano in solo and accompaniment roles. Performers include Douglas Mews and the School of Music's Dame Malvina Major, Dr Roger Buckton, Dr Jonathon Le Cocq and Edith Salzmann. Tickets are $25 (students $15) from Ticketek.
More information about the Platform festival can be found at www.canterbury.ac.nz/platform.
For further information please contact:
Festival Co-ordinator
College of Arts
University of Canterbury
Ph (03) 364 3451
gregory.latham@canterbury.ac.nz