Salon grand piano (“Clara Schumann grand piano”) 

GROTRIAN, HELFFERICH, SCHULZ / TH. STEINWEG NACHF. 
Braunschweig 
1879 
Städtisches Museum Braunschweig, inv. no. 0012-0148-00 
Donated by Grotrian-Steinweg Braunschweig 1985 

The grand piano on display once belonged to the pianist Clara Schumann (1819-1896). She acquired it from Grotrian-Steinweg in Braunschweig in 1879 and installed it in her home in Frankfurt. With a length of 1.9 meters, it corresponds to the size of a salon grand piano; concert grand pianos have a minimum length of 2.4 meters. The grand piano is fitted with a cast iron frame, a star notch, and cross-stringing with three strings per key in the treble and two per key in the bass. The range covers the usual seven octaves with 85 notes. Today's grand pianos have an extra minor third in the treble, i. e. 88 notes. The action is the so-called Viennese action. The case is made of black polished mahogany.

After Clara Schumann's death, the grand piano was returned to Braunschweig. Grotrian Steinweg gave it to the Städtisches Museum Braunschweig on permanent loan in 1930. It became the museum’s property in 1985.  

“March 21, 73
London, 

14 Hyde Park Gate, 

Kensington 

Dear Sirs, I would like to ask you whether you can send me a beautiful large concert grand piano – like the one I had in Leipzig – for the Rhenish Music Festival, taking place in Aachen this time, on June 1st? I would also like to mention that since the locality is very large, the grand piano must sound brilliant. I would appreciate an answer to this question as soon as possible. 

I must also mention that on this occasion it is particularly desirable that you send someone reliable to take care of everything, including the tuning. 

I hope the gentleman who was in Leipzig thanked you. I was very pleased with the instrument and so was the audience, but of course a counterpart could be expected in Leipzig. Looking forward to your kind replies, I remain  

Clara Schumann”