It’s that time of year again. Freeburg Pianos will be moving not one but two of our amazing 6’1″ Perzina grand pianos to the First United Methodist Church in Hendersonville, NC for the Annual Student Recital. This year’s program, on Sunday, February 16 at 3:00, will include thirteen students of various ages performing a masterworks concert. Our very own Perzina artist, Christopher Tavernier will conclude the recital with pieces by Lizst and Rachmaninoff. The concert is free and open to the public but come early to be sure to get a good seat.
Have you ever considered that there are three vital team members necessary for a quality performance? We all know it takes a pianist and a piano but the third member is an often unknown behind-the-scenes artist. For example, Christopher Tavernier is an amazing pianist who, although he prefers performing on the Perzina, could play any piano and sound brilliant. But even Christopher needs the third member of the team for a pleasing performance. Who is this “unknown artist?” In Christopher’s case, it is our own master piano technician, Keith Freeburg.
Preparing pianos for performing artists and their concerts is one of the highlights of Keith’s long career in music. As a performing artist himself, on string and electric bass, he really understands how important it is to have instruments in “tip-top” shape. There are three specific areas that get special attention before every event.
Obviously, a concert piano needs to be in tune. As an aural technician, Keith tunes by listening with his natural ear to discern the beats produced by the overtones of an interval. Can you imagine the amazing gift and skill it takes to discern up to twelve beats per second? Not everyone can hear the beats nor do they have the patience to tune approximately 230 individual strings.
Tuning one piano amazes me. Now, add to that the fact that he is tuning two pianos to play together for this concert and I am even more amazed. The two pianos will be tuned to the Equal Beating Victorian Temperament, a common tuning of the 1800’s. It restores the tones and colors that had become lost with the standard Equal Temperament tuning. Most technicians only know the Equal Temperament.
The need for tuning is obvious but another part of Keith’s concert preparation includes regulation and voicing which affect the touch and tone of each individual instrument. Artists have varying preferences and Keith is sensitive to prepare a piano to their satisfaction. For example, the regulation on the Perzina piano allows for the extremely fast repetition required by Christopher’s flying fingers. Voicing of the instruments brings out the deep rich bass, resonant midrange and sparkling treble tones characteristic of concert pianos.
Perhaps I am biased, but I truly believe that piano technicians are the “unsung heroes” of the piano world. For thirty-five years, Keith has been making beautiful music possible for performances as well as for individual personal enjoyment. We’ve all heard out-of-tune pianos
This Thursday, February 6 at 11:30 am, Keith and Pastor Dan from the hosting church will be interviewed on WTZQ radio program “Coffeetime with George Henry.” Click here to listen to the live interview.
If you live in or near Hendersonville, I hope you will join us at the recital.