Lately, there has been a deluge of uploads of YouTube videos extracted from Nobuyuki Tsujii TV specials that have aired in Japan.
These videos are godsends amid these miserable COVID-19 days. Sadly, for those of us who do not understand spoken Japanese, we are all too aware that we miss out on a lot of the nuances.
So it's good to see this thoughtful blog post about one of these videos, clearly written by a piano lover. The original post, in Japanese, is at https://blog.goo.ne.jp/old-dreamer/e/93edc57850b506d000347bf60e97d386
Below is an English translation.
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Nobuyuki Tsujii In Paris "The Night when Chopin flew down"
[title of a 2017 episode of the Nobuyuki Tsujii World Music Travels Series]
While exploring Nobuyuki Tsujii's Youtube videos, I came across an interesting one. This is a scene where Mr. Tsujii visited an old piano studio on the left bank of the Seine in Paris, and was allowed to play a restored 19th-century piano.
Video embedded
Source: The following video was borrowed from Youtube so that you can feel the atmosphere of the workshop. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or8jE-R0NYY
Nobuyuki Tsujii performs ballade and Campanella on a 19th century piano
(NOTE: The footage can also be seen on another video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hTJb2cGrAU, starting at time mark 23:00 )
The Ultimate Gift
No matter how good a pianist is, it is unlikely that he will be able to play, for the first time, an ancient instrument that is different from the modern piano. This is especially challenging for a visually impaired person. What normally happens is: After a lot of trial and error, the pianist will play a simple and well-known piece on the unfamiliar instrument.
Surprisingly, this extraordinary pianist at once cranked out a Chopin's ballade soon after he groped for the keyboard. In the corner of the workshop where the piano is placed, we see the piano craftsman who restored and reproduced this piano. [Editorial: The craftsman is Monsieur Philippe Jolly http://www.apex-france.com/atelier-philippe-jolly-antique-piano.html, a famous "atelier who restores the pianos loved by Chopin and Liszt like Pleyel and Erard, and also famous European brands such as Bechstein, Boesendorfer, Schimmel, and Steinway."] The craftsman is watching with his arms folded. Wearing an apron on worn-out work clothes, there is an air of unflinching craftsmanship. Here is someone who knows the difficulty of his pianos more than anyone else. We can sense his thought.
It is natural to think that an ordinary pianist would play a practice song after first groping for the mechanism necessary for playing, such as the position and arrangement of the keyboard and the range of the octaves. The craftsman stares at the hands in anticipation.
However, Mr. Tsujii starts playing without any awareness of the feelings of the master craftsman, who is gradually drawn to the side of the piano as if he is fascinated. It is very interesting to observe his movements and facial expressions. The room soon fills with the sounds of the 19th century, a state of immersion. When the ballade is over, the master craftsman applauds and says, "Mr. Tsujii was the first to play a ballade on this piano, and it was wonderful."
Then, when Mr. Tsujii starts playing "La Campanella", the craftsman snuggles up to the side of the piano and stares at Mr. Tsujii's splendid finger movements. The craftsmen sways his head to the music and seems to enjoy this extravagant time. The expression finally appears and can be seen openly -- of a joy and wonder that a pianist has brought out the potential of the piano that he has lovingly restored and repaired. Mr. Tsujii also plays "Rondo of the Seine", which he composed himself, which responds well to the restoration efforts. For the craftsman, it is a blissful time when a great deal of effort has paid off and the sounds of the 19th century can be heard again. I have a feeling that life has not been easy for this master craftsman.
The story of the piano studio on the left bank of the Seine
While watching this video, I remembered a book * about a piano studio in Paris that I had read before.
An American writer living in Paris describes his encounter and experience with a piano restoration workshop on the left bank of the Seine. The workshop is stubborn with craftsmanship, repairing and restoring old pianos and selling them to a limited number of customers. However, the craftsmanship is not straightforward.
At first, Carhartt, a potential guest, wasn't allowed to enter the store. After that, with the introduction of another customer, the time came when he was welcomed by the craftsman Luc. Pianos of all manufacturers and vintages were placed in the workshop.
Behind the closed, musty cave where felt had piled up, there was a golden metropolis of used pianos that shone seductively.
Steinway, Pleyel, Fazioli, Bösendorfer, Stingle, Yamaha, Bechstein, Erard ... and even pianos made in China.
Carhartt visits the workshop and soon became one of the most welcomed customers. He decided to buy one for his apartment, but Luc did not recommend it. He thinks the piano is like a member of the family.
Attracted by Luc's incredible love and enthusiasm for the piano, Carhartt takes piano lessons and gains knowledge of the history of the piano.
He travels to Steinway showrooms and factories in New York, and even to Fazioli in Italy.
Carhartt is drawn into the deep charm of the piano and regains the joy of music that he had forgotten. What kind of existence is a piano?
For a craftsman, the piano is more than just an instrument. It's like a member of a family, with a life of its own. Carhartt goes far beyond the mere craftsman-customer relationship with Luc and learns so much about piano and music. There is no clear story. But for those who like the piano, this book is a unique read and will always be a must-have .
In different disciplines, this blog author has been particularly interested in the world of the restoration studios (atelier) where paintings are produced, starting in the world of painters in the 17th century (including considerable articles about the studio, sometimes north ). I even went to an atelier for Italian furniture and clothing ).
I am very pleased to introduce the restoration of the 19th century piano in this way.
THE PIANO SHOP ON THE LEFT BANK: The Hidden World of a Paris Atlier by TE Carhart (translated by Kiyoshi Muramatsu) "Piano Studio on the Left Bank of Paris" Shinchosha, 2001)
* I wish the Japanese title was "Piano Studio on the Left Bank of Paris Seine".
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Below are a couple of screen-grabs showing Nobu with Monsieur Philippe Jolly.
My own post about the show can be found at "Nobuyuki Tsujii in Paris" 2017 documentary
