Nanaimo Piano Tuner pays Homage to Steinway

The history of Steinway pianos is closely intertwined with the almost even more colourful history of the Steinway family itself.  Several books have been written on this fascinating dynasty.  One book I read included an anecdote which would simply not let me go – I had to go and check it out for myself – a sort of pilgrimage.

The story goes that in 1870, the family patriarch and company founder, Henry Engelhard Steinway had a great family mausoleum built in Green Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.  The cost at the time was almost $50,000.  Considering that one could buy a very comfortable house to live in for $1,000, this was probably equivalent to purchasing a whole sub-division!  The thought to visit this site if I ever had the chance would not let me go.

Steinway Family Mausoleum in Green Wood Cemetery, Queens

Steinway Family Mausoleum in Green Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn

The opportunity arose with a recent trip to New York City.  The subway dropped us off in Brooklyn within walking distance of Green Wood.  It was a gray and rainy mid-week day, we were all alone in a cemetery so large that you have to pay close attention to the map as to not get lost.  After a spell walking the weaving roads, we rounded one last curve and staring down on us from the top of a hill was the final resting place of the Steinway clan.

The massive granite structure is reminiscent of a fortress.  Family patriarch Henry (Heinrich) Steinway was the first to be interred here, a year after its completion. In the following years and decades, his wife, sons and their families followed.  The tomb is large enough to hold many more generations of Steinways.

   

One more thing crossed off my bucket list….

Tuning the Piano for Stuart Maclean’s Vinyl Café in Nanaimo

Everyone loves Stuart Maclean, how could you not? An out-of-town friend recently called me up and literally yelled into the phone: “I am just reading Stuart Maclean’s book “The Vinyl Café Notebooks”, and did you know he mentions you by name in there?!”

“Oh, yeah, I know that”,I responded casually, “I have Stuart’s cell phone number here somewhere – do you want it?” There was a thud at the other end of the line as my friend collapsed.

Piano Tuning for Stuart Maclean at the Port Theatre

Truth be told, I was quite excited to be able to tune the mclean_notebooks.aapiano for the Vinyl Café when he brought his show to Nanaimo. I left a little note for Stuart on the piano when I was finished. At the show, he read it out to the audience, and paid tribute to all piano tuners across the land who work hard behind the scenes to ensure that concerts and performances go off harmoniously and without technical problems.

I was really tickled some time later when I received a phone call from Stuart himself. He said he wanted to include that story in his book, and asked me if I was OK with that and confirmed the spelling of my name. I wondered if he had perhaps thrown away my business card… I graciously granted my permission to appear in one of his stories. And the rest is now history. Here is what Stuart writes in Vinyl Cafe Notebooks:

“We arrived at the Port Theatre in Nanaimo last month to find a note from piano tuner Jürgen Goering waiting for us on the piano bench.
Welcome back to Vancouver Island, read his note. You know you are on the west coast when the piano technician comes in by rowboat to tune for your show.”

You’re welcome, Stuart. Any time.

Interesting Piano Tuned in Ladysmith BC

My recent call to tune a Heintzman piano in Ladysmith held an interesting surprise. The old piano turned out to be Grand Old Dame from the golden years of Heintzman’s production. Built in Toronto just prior to 1920, this piano was truly one of this prestigious firm’s top of the line verticals. Perhaps you need to be an aficionado of piano technical detail such as myself to appreciate the finer features in a piano action, but I was impressed by full sostenuto, the tubular metal let-off rail (a la Steinway) and the solid steel action rail.

Onwards to Chemainus and Duncan

Heintzman details

Heintzman action details

After this tuning, my piano service itinerary took me in the direction of Duncan, past Chemainus to Zak Cohen’s Woodshop Recording Studio. Tucked away on a country road is one of Vancouver Islands best kept secrets in the recording industry. The upright piano I tuned there is perfectly suited for recording folk, country, blues and other roots music.

Piano Tuning from Mill Bay to Hornby – a busy week

Tuning Pianos across Vancouver Island kept me very busy this week. Piano work took me from Duncan, Cobble Hill, Mill Bay to the south up to Hornby Island, where I prepped the Bechstein grand piano at the Hornby Community Hall for a concert.

Side trip through Oceanside – Qualicum and Parksville

On the way back through Oceanside I stopped in Qualicum and Parksville to sort out some smaller piano problems for clients there. I rewarded myself for all that hard work by stopping by at Island Scallops as I drove past, and picked up a pound of their delicious scallops. Yum.

scallops

Nanaimo Piano Tuner makes discovery while tuning in Duncan BC

On a recent piano tuning trip to the Cowichan Valley and Duncan, one of my stops was St John’s Anglican Church in downtown Duncan. The instrument I was called to tune was a modern, shiny black upright piano. No surprises there. But my attention was drawn to the alcove in the sanctuary where a quaint and obviously old pipe organ resided. Some framed letters and documents show that this was one of the first organs and probably the oldest organ in western Canada.

Built in England by J.W. Walker and Sons of London, the organ was originally installed in a church in Victoria BC in 1860 before being moved to Duncan 100 years ago. I hold a fascination for old organs as well as pianos, I even own a 120 year old small church organ in my own collection. I hope to get back to St John’s Anglican Church in downtown Duncan for a service or an organ recital to actually hear their organ being played. When I do, I will try to get a few photographs of the grand old dame.
Church Window

Piano Tuning Holiday: Nanaimo, Duncan, Parksville, Qualicum BC

I will not be tuning or repairing pianos in Nanaimo, Central Vancouver Island including Oceanside from Jan 01st – 5th, 2013. During this time I will be tuning and servicing pianos at Kwantlen College in Langley on the mainland. Regular piano servicing will resume again on January 7.
Have a happy New Year!
Jurgen Goering

Nanaimo Piano Tuning Gift Certificates

Piano Tuning in a Winter Wonderland

Piano Tuning in a Winter Wonderland

To all my piano tuning clients in Nanaimo and the Central Island, including Parksville, Qualicum, Ladysmith, Duncan, I wish to extend my best wishes for the Holiday Season.  Thanks you for entrusting the tuning of your pianos to me,  allowing me to restore harmony in the universe, one piano at a time.

May your holidays be filled with joy and music.

And if you are still looking for that perfect holiday present for the piano player on your list, Piano Tuning Gift Certificates are still available.

 

 

Piano Service in Yellowknife 2012

As part of his piano technician services, Jurgen Goering makes an annual trip to Yellowknife, in the North West Territories of Canada.   images3There he has a dedicated clientelle of piano lovers who get their pianos serviced and tuned annually by him.  In 2012 his Yellowknife trip dates are September 23rd until October 10th.  If you are a new Yellowknife client, please contact him for an appointment, as Jurgen is currently booking four piano tunings per day from Sept. 24th until October 9th.

Please note that Piano Forte Service on Vancouver Island will be closed from Sept. 22nd until October 11th, 2012.

Piano Technician convention October 2012

Jurgen will be continuing with ongoing professional development by participating in a Piano Technicians’ convention from October 14-17, 2012.  Please note that Piano Forte Service on Vancouver Island will be closed from October 13th until October 18th, 2012.  We will be pleased book more piano tunings and servicing starting on October 22nd, 2012.  Thank you!