During the last four decades of the 20th century a small number of individuals and scattered cells of dedicated activity around the world sought to expand the design parameters of traditional acoustic musical instruments using contemporary scientific and technological knowhow.
This arcane renaissance focused enthusiasm, energy and intellect on a neglected and stagnant area of the music industry. Forty years on Mr. Wayne Stuart OAM, an Australian who dared to envisage and realize a new concept for the acoustic piano talks about his experience and the reasons he chose a different pathway to the reproduction of proven form. “I’m possibly the only piano maker to rise in a century to establish a cohesive and self sufficient facility to build original piano designs from the drawing board that explored new technical and aesthetic parameters. My unique designs are based on the vertical coupling of the strings to the soundboard. This system removes the reaction forces from the soundboard that are produced by bending the wire to terminate its speaking length/frequency as it passes over the bridge”. The Stuart system challenges traditional construction dogmas and produces a sound with extraordinary clarity and sustain. “I have called this system Vertical String Coupling as it defines a different technical trajectory in piano building and opens the prospects for a new sound paradigm”.
This arcane renaissance focused enthusiasm, energy and intellect on a neglected and stagnant area of the music industry. Forty years on Mr. Wayne Stuart OAM, an Australian who dared to envisage and realize a new concept for the acoustic piano talks about his experience and the reasons he chose a different pathway to the reproduction of proven form. “I’m possibly the only piano maker to rise in a century to establish a cohesive and self sufficient facility to build original piano designs from the drawing board that explored new technical and aesthetic parameters. My unique designs are based on the vertical coupling of the strings to the soundboard. This system removes the reaction forces from the soundboard that are produced by bending the wire to terminate its speaking length/frequency as it passes over the bridge”. The Stuart system challenges traditional construction dogmas and produces a sound with extraordinary clarity and sustain. “I have called this system Vertical String Coupling as it defines a different technical trajectory in piano building and opens the prospects for a new sound paradigm”.
Mastercraftsman Wayne Stuart
Stuart’s grand pianos tend to polarize opinion as they challenge traditionalist views and pedagogical dogmas. The sound’s architecture presents a multi dimensional palate and the extended frequency range and additional control pedal encourages the player to think more like a pipe organist where diverse layers of consciousness are required to maximize performance potential. Stuart has demonstrated that a new paradigm and trajectory are realistic options for traditional musical instruments. He believes that contemporary makers have limited creative options if confined to the derivative, traditional construction dogmas. “Reproduction of proven form is a dud option!” he affirms.
Wayne Stuart believes that if new trajectories are not found the future for the old mechanical musical instrument technologies will be increasingly ignored by new generations as they will fail to ignite curiosity and inspiration. Piano technology is possibly better understood by more people now than even in the history of the craft. Curiously, fewer students put their knowledge to work…it has become a quasi academic exercise in historical voyeurism. Over the past two decades others have observed the work of Wayne Stuart and made their own variations on his core design principles or have come to similar conclusions via their own route. Wayne Stuart has been alone in building a facility and a product line based on absolute provenance, not just cobbling together generic parts and ideas and sticking a personalized badge on it. “The current trashing of brand names on generic mass production has destroyed interest in individuality and is potentially a fatal mix for a troubled industry."
Stuart has done the hard yards in developing his own concepts and designs from the drawing board. His uncompromising approach has liberated him from traditionalist dogmas and prejudices. His formal training and natural interest in piano design and applied scientific principles, together with experience in training technicians and servicing all kinds of pianos prepared him well in a similar manner to that of the great builders of the past. The industrialization of piano manufacturing during the 20th century abdicated the critical aesthetic choices to mechanical engineers and non piano building related disciplines. This has produced so called pianomakers unable to realise a workable, individual design. Thus, copying of derivative designs and adherence to past ideologies in an attempt to hold onto the so called core essence of what many believe the acoustic piano to be, underpins a crisis in potency and direction.
Stuart is the Steinway of the modern era or what Steinway could have become if it evolved further. Alas, the mastermind behind this great piano, Theodore Steinway died 1889 after completing his work. Stuart & Sons communicates now a tangible vision for an ancient musical instrument that respects its tradition but offers something fresh and new, something that challenges performers to think about dynamics and textures of sound. Stuart’s vision of a multi dimensional soundscape, an instrument with all its teeth…….all 102 of them…… the widest possible frequency range not a truncated 88 key version, legitimate control pedals that enhance performance practice and numerous other nuances of construction detail, represent a holistic philosophy and vision for acoustic piano sound in our time. The essential elements sought after in an acoustic piano with the added attraction of being able to extend the performer beyond their comfort zone are hallmarks of his design ethos. Stuart & Sons meet the performer halfway challenging them to step up and explore the possibilities.
Stuart & Sons in the News
“Meaningless brand names and generic design is the fare for most contemporary piano shops. Real difference is superficial and elusive.” says Wayne Stuart. A prominent retailer recently lamented; “The biggest problem with the piano game is that we are pedaling dinosaurs”! Few are prepared to invest in high risk creativity particularly of the kind that may be exposed to prejudiced assessment where the entry code must pass conflicting and entrenched attitudes, predispositions and deep seated vested interests. This makes Wayne Stuart’s work all the more amazing and a true marvel of our times.
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Stuart & Sons, Newcastle, Australia
Artur Cimirro and the Stuart & Sons Piano - A First Hand Experience
