I'm fascinated to learn, via Ectoplasmosis!, of a uniquely-shaped piano from Schimmel in Germany.
Apparently Schimmel collaborated with the Italian designer Luigi Colani to develop a modern interpretation of the classical concert piano design. According to one review:
Professor Luigi Colani reimagined the traditional 88 keys and gave the classic grand piano a futuristic organic shape with some virtuoso upgrades. The Pegasus features a ergonomic curved keyboard ( i. e. the keys exhibit a slight curvature ) that encompasses 7 1/4 octaves, a electrically operated hydraulic lid that allows you to control the specific amount of projection desired, a fallboard “soft close” system, the original Schimmel Triplex Scale ”CAPE” precision soundboard tri-dimensionally curved and formed with a “high performance” back assembly with tension collector, a Sostenuto pedal (middle pedal), a fully-adjustable integrated black leather upholstered stool extendible in width, height, and distance to the keyboard, and a hard-wearing professional lacquer finish resulting in a grand piano of breathtaking elegance.
It's certainly different! Here's another in black.
Apparently Schimmel built only fourteen of this model. Owners are said to include Prince, Lenny Kravitz and Eddie Murphy. The white one pictured at the beginning of this article was sold to a music store owner in California, who put it up for auction earlier this year - asking a mere $110,000!
I don't know if I like it, being something of a traditionalist when it comes to musical instruments: but it's certainly a novel approach, and I'm sure it shook up the ultra-purists! I'd love to hear it in person, to compare its sound to that of a traditional concert grand piano.
Peter
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