The Piano: A Romance on Three Legs

Few other instruments equal the piano for beauty, simplicity, engineering and sensitivity. For more than one hundred years pianos have been found in homes all around the world. It is the easiest instrument to make music on, but also fiendishly difficult to master. Our love affair with the piano has grown over the years. In fact, you may not know it, but we have two digital pianos at the Central Library downtown that anyone can use (free of charge) for one hour per day. Call our QIC information to schedule a time at 206-386-4636.

As I was going through the new books recently I found a title that intrigued me, A Romance on Three Legs; Glenn Gould’s obsessive quest for the perfect piano by Katie Hafner.

No, this is not a mutant love story. This is the love story of Glenn Gould and his piano. This delightful book tells about eccentric Canadian Grammy winning pianist Glenn Gould and his search for the ultimate piano. It tells his life story and how he found an old beaten up piano that was about to be sent back to the factory. This legendary piano was Steinway model CD 318. He fell in love with this piano and used it exclusively while making his greatest recordings. The story of this “perfect” piano has a tragic twist as it tells how the piano was dropped while being shipped to a recording session and how Gould would struggle to bring this piano back to its perfection until the end of his life.

If you are interested in reading more about Steinway pianos you might also enjoy these other titles:
Steinway by Ronald V. Ratcliffe
Piano; the making of a Steinway Concert Grand by James Baron
The Steinway Saga; an American dynasty by D. W. Fostle
Steinway & Sons by Richard K. Lieberman
The Wonders of the Piano; anatomy of the instrument by Catherine C. Bielefeldt

Finally an especially helpful book for those who are looking at owning a piano including a short history of the Steinway piano:
The Piano Book; a guide to buying a new or used piano by Larry Fine, (with annual supplements)

~John B.