I blame Pam & Gaylan

For my birthday, my sister and brother-in-law gave my The Piano Shop on the Left Bank, a memoir that reads like a novel about a man rediscovering his passion for the piano while living in Paris. The day after I started reading it, I practiced (and I mean actually practiced) for the first time in months. It was incredible to get back to really playing this instrument that has become my second voice.

Of course, I was practicing on my Yamaha Arius, which is probably one of the better digital pianos at just being a piano, but it left me dissatisfied after all the accounts of the various pianos in the book, each one unique in tone and touch, and all having the visceral connection inherent in an acoustic piano.

There was also the dilapidated Acrosonic that we picked up about a year and half ago. Ironically, this piano was almost the same model that I counseled Pam and Gaylan to purchase several years back. The difference is that theirs, while getting on in years, was well maintained and required tuning. The one that we picked up had basically been used as another piece of furniture, the veneer has drink rings and is otherwise in terrible shape, the pedals do not work consistently over the keyboard, and there are other mechanical issues that, if they can even be addressed, would cost more to be repaired than the piano is worth. At the very least, it is doubtful whether the piano would be worth much to a couple of composers, one of whom has been playing piano for 20 years, the other a trained soprano who needs more volume to balance her voice.

The book showed me where I should have been prioritizing. I discussed this with Katie and we agreed that a grand piano would be absolutely essential in the next 10 years.

Then we installed the floors in the living room. After we rearranged the furniture to a more workable and attractive configuration, I realized that there was, in fact, plenty of room for a baby grand in one corner. This lead me to price grands just to see how feasible getting one would be. After some encouraging internet searches, I decided to check by the local music shop, Jent's, to see what the market in Lubbock is like. I tried all their used grands on the floor and checked the prices. Besides the obligatory $25,000 Steinways, there were a number of babies that fell within our projected price range. This was encouraging!

Then I spotted a walnut finish with a brand name I had never encountered: Vose & Sons. It was in great shape, played nicely, had a great, middle-of-the-road tone, and a consistent feel from the bottom to the top of the keyboard. It was love at first touch!

Somewhat giddy, I called Katie and she researched the builder. Apparently the company was founded in 1851 by James W. Vose, a former cabinet maker, in Boston. He later brought his sons into the business, adding the "& Sons" to the brand. They were acquired during the Great Depression by the Aeolian-American Corporation, who continued producing pianos under the Vose & Sons brand until 1982. Katie returned to the store to have a look at the piano and check the serial number. From that we were able to narrow its building date to sometime between late 1925 and early 1927, most likely 1926. This was before the Aeolian-America takeover. Katie also learned that the piano had been acquired on consignment and that it had been there for many months and had not sold. My assessment of the situation is that there just isn't as much of a market for grands here as there is in larger cities. They had dropped the price by $2,000! This was Monday.

We went in yesterday morning to do a final "test drive" with some sheet music and so that Katie could sing with it. While she was somewhat self-conscious about singing in the middle of a music store, we had to be sure because, as I told her and the store clerks, if it doesn't work for her, it doesn't work for us. Anyway, her performance was impressive enough that a lady who called in during our test asked for Katie's name. The clerk told her that the voice she heard was that of a customer and that he didn't know anymore than that.

And now I'm sitting in the newly floored living room. If I look to my right, this is what I see:

Well, almost. It now has music on it.

The view from upon entry.

(Some gratuitous closeups.)

Anyway, we are obviously both really excited and can't wait to take advantage of having a great piano in the house. Katie has started composing an opera for her dissertation. Since she composes at the piano, the Vose will encourage her to really sink her teeth into that project. I start teaching on it this Friday and look forward to expanding the number of my students. And, of course, it has hardly been silent since it's installation. Who knew you could find a piano of this caliber in Lubbock?