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| Ah, Queens ... |
Coming across a blurb in magazine,
I remembered that ever since I moved to the New York area I have wanted to
visit the Steinway & Sons piano factory. An odd aspiration, I know, yet
ever since seeing a television program on the inner-workings of the factory, I
thought it would be a cool place to see in person. Actually, this interest in
Steinway’s originates from the summer I worked the William Kappell
International Piano Competition back in 2007 at the University of Maryland. For
two-weeks, as a member of the student stage crew of the Clarice Smith
Performing Arts Center, I worked rehearsals, recitals (by the likes of Philip Glass and Ahmad Jamal), and concerts--even the final night of completion. Throughout, we were immersed in piano music and
inundated with pianos—including those from Kawai, Yamaha, and of course,
Steinway. We weren’t piano-movers (c’mon those guys are huge) but on a daily
basis we would run the pianos in and out of concert halls and recital spaces
throughout the facility. And, since each participant selected a different piano
to use for the competition, we would even do grand piano swaps in front of the
audience—when smooth transitions are a must. So, while not being a musician I
don’t look at a Steinway piano as a top-of-the-line instrument from which to
produce remarkable sounds, I instead view it as an immense yet delicate machine—the
production of which must be a great story.
While I may not be terribly
productive outside my working hours, I do frequently use this time to enjoy the
greatest hub of art, culture, and entertainment (and cuisine, finance,
innovation, design, etc.) that is New York. (However, you will rarely see a
silent movie with organ accompaniment there—Jersey City has dibs on that.) In
the past week or so, I have been incredibly lucky to have watched a college
basketball game, listened to a concert, and see two (or four, rather) plays.
Frankly, I’m as astonished as you, dear reader, that I could fit this all
within my week (and budget). But the cost of living here includes access to such
opportunities. And if you don’t take advantage of this proximity, then you
might as well live somewhere else--you know, somewhere cheaper and less
exciting, like Philly.
