Yesterday I had the most delightful conversation with a composer about Pianos. His 9 foot Fazioli Concert Grand arrives in a few days and his anticipation was palpable and effusive. Granted, my own personal infatuation with the pianoforte culture is far from mild or fleeting, so we were like two kids in piano store. Despite the original topic of conversation, we quickly gravitated to the subject of Pianos like moths to a flame. We spent nearly an hour talking about the unique action of the keys, the je ne sais quoi of it’s magical sound, the lofty experience of playing music on it, how Fazioli uses the same wood as Stradivarious, and how every detail is absolutely perfect to the minutia, even the finish underneath the soundboard, where no one but the artisans who built it would look. (Of course I had to tell him I always lay under pianos to hear them from below since I took lessons as a child…hahahaha) This passionate composer clearly has an eye for beauty to match his ear for music.
He told me a story of how Fazioli turned down an order for 100 pianos from a prestigious music conservatory. Fazioli said since they are all handbuilt and only a limited number are made every year, they intentionally spread the number of pianos they sell across different institutions and artists to insure there is a diversity in the world of Fazioli owners. Furthermore, that Fazioli would not lower the quality of their pianos by rushing the craftsmanship of their hand built instruments, nor would they mass produce pianos simply for convenience or profit. In the truest sense, Fazioli are Artisans and Craftsmen, dedicated to the pursuit of the perfect instrument. Paolo Fazioli (the original designer/owner) is purported to step down and hand the reigns to his son in a few years, and like all true artists, a new generation will continue the long lineage of this legendary piano builder’s work.
Inspiration is around us everywhere. It envelops us. It drives us to build pianos, compose music, design buildings, build cars, write novels and express ourselves in the most personal and colorful ways. It courses through our veins, brings joyous torture to our souls and saves us from ourselves while leaving us at the mercy of the muses.
To Paolo Fazioli and every passionately devoted creator, we salute you. With nearly 75 years of piano building in your history, the heartfelt admiration of pianists worldwide and a dedication to the pursuit of excellence, your Artistry and Craftsmanship inspires all of us who share in your devotion to the arts.
To the passionate composer who was kind enough to take the time to regale me with such wonderful stories of the legendary piano builders of Sacile, Italy, I thank you most sincerely.
And to everyone who appreciates being inspired by Craftsmanship + Quality, we honor you.
“There are unknown forces in nature; when we give ourselves wholly to her, without reserve, she lends them to us; she shows us these forms, which our watching eyes do not see, which our intelligence does not understand or suspect.” – Rodin
Peace & Passion, – ∆H + all of us here at DHDI
