Erard |
Stephen
Birkett
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Research
Teaching
Music
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| Sebastien Erard (1752-1831),
the founder of the Erard firm, built the first piano in France in 1777.
Despite his fame as one of the pre-eminent piano builders of the 19th
century, he initially directed his efforts primarily at building harps.
He was a precocious inventor, patenting many innovations in harp and piano
technology. When his Paris establishment was destroyed in the French Revolution,
he set up an English factory in London. Sebastien, and his nephew Pierre
(1796-1855), shared the operation of this London factory, and newly re-built
Paris factory. Erard pianos were ubiquitous throughout Europe and sought
after by many pianists. | |||||
Erard's most important
contribution was certainly the double escapement action, which he invented
and first produced in about 1823 - essentially the same design is still
used in the actions of all modern pianos. The introduction of this new
action coincided with Liszt's first trip to Paris at age thirteen, and
the young pianist was overcome by the new type of piano which he saw.
The Erard family fussed over Liszt throughout his career, providing instruments,
and the Salles Erard, for his concerts. Liszt was a regular visitor to
the Maison Erard whenever he was in Paris.
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Erard's second version of
the double repetition action ca1840 is shown in the photo above. | |||||||
The entrance to the
Erard premises ca1960 is shown in the photo at the left. Sebastien's nephew
Pierre continued to operate the two branches of the Erard firm until his
death in 1855. A curious fact is that both Sebastien and his competitor
Ignaz Pleyel died in the same year 1831, and both Pierre Erard and Pleyel's
son, Camille, died in the same year 1855. | |||||||
Some 19th century Erard pianos | |||||||
Erard 1803 FF-c4 5.5 octaves owned by Beethoven | |||||||
Erard 1836 CC-a4 6.5 octaves concert piano | |||||||
Erard 1840 CC-f4 6.5 octaves salon piano | |||||||
Erard 1857 AAA-a4
7 octaves | |||||||
Erard 1860 AAA-a4 7 octaves | |||||||
mp3 samples | |||||||
Hausmusik; Cyril Huve fpo (Erard, 1822). EMI CDC 7 54264 2 | |||||||
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La Gaia Scienza; Federica Valli fpo (Erard, 1842). Winter & Winter 910-052-2 | |||||||
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External links | |||||||
Jean Louchet, Pianos Pleyel et Erard | |||||||