The Old World – Grotrian-Steinweg | Music and Marketing

Just like Steinway & Sons, Grotrian-Steinweg also strove for active contact with exceptional musicians. Already during his time as piano maker in Moscow, Friedrich Grotrian (1803–1860) maintained intensive relations with the art scene. His son William (1843–1917) continued this practice in Braunschweig, as did Kurt (1870–1929) from the next generation. Celebrities such as Clara Schumann (1819-1896), Hans von Bülow (1830-1894), Joseph Joachim (1831-1907), Max Bruch (1838-1920), Felix Weingartner (1863-1942), Richard Strauss (1864-1949), Eugène d'Albert (1864-1932), Max Reger (1873-1916) and others frequented the house on Bohlweg street. Numerous entries in the guest and visitors' books kept by the Grotrians are proof of this fact.

Grotrian-Steinweg’s connection with Clara Schumann was of special significance for the company. The composer was introduced to their instruments at a shop in Frankfurt around 1870. She was inspired by the easy touch and the sound quality at once. 

In the following years, she fitted the households of friends, family members and acquaintances with the “product” from Braunschweig. She also started a lively correspondence with the Grotrian family on ideas of sound and technical-mechanical concerns, thus gaining significant influence on the construction of the instruments. Her first concert on a Grotrian-Steinweg (then still named Grotrian, Helfferich, Schulz / Th. Steinweg Nachf.) was performed in 1871; in total, she verifiably used Grotrian-Steinweg grand pianos for 99 concerts.

Examples for pianists, who valued Grotrian-Steinweg grand pianos: