March 2018

Famous Composers: How They Use Music to Express Feelings Beyond Words

Composers are merely authors who use music to express feelings beyond words. We call it the language of music. Notes, like words, can be strung together in such a way to convey a feeling or message, to tell a story. Your words, a composer’s notes, tell a story.

At Chicago Piano Tuners, we know the value of a well-tuned piano. We know as a pianist that you can hit all the right keys, but your message will only ring true, if the notes come out as planned, and that piano is perfectly in tune. We are here to help you tell your story, like many world renowned composers of yesteryear. Let’s revisit some now.

Frederic Chopin

Frederic Chopin is among the best piano composers of all time. A French-Polish pianist born in 1810 during the romantic period, he truly was a romantic, at least when it came to his piano. Chopin’s relationship with his piano was intimate and sacred.

He is remembered for having said, “I tell my piano the things I used to tell you.”

For a composer, a piano is a trusted confidante. Chopin was no stranger to this and valued his companionship with his piano. 

Ludwig Van Beethoven

A German piano composer, Ludwig Van Beethoven was born in 1770. He explored the styles during the transition between the classical and romantic period and was afforded the opportunity to write powerful pieces influenced by the political and stylistic changing of the times.

Composing through the French Revolution, Brittanica writers Julian Medforth Budden and Raymond L. Knapp put it so beautifully in saying that “He revealed more vividly than any of his predecessors the power of music to convey a philosophy of life without the aid of a spoken text; and in certain of his compositions is to be found the strongest assertion of the human will in all music, if not in all art.”

Beethoven had a lot of powerful feelings, and his piano was the way he would use music to express feelings beyond words.

Franz Liszt

Hungarian composer Franz Liszt was born in 1811. He began composing at eight years of age and was publicly performing as a concert pianist by age nine. Like many famous artists, Liszt endured his share of tragedy from illness to heartbreak. These common tortures led him to be a deep, and insightful man. Liszt channeled these feelings through his piano and said “music embodies feeling without forcing it to contend and combine with thought, as it is forced in most arts and especially the art of words.”

Music, the pieces we remember, the pieces that go down in history, are products of strong emotions that cannot be easily conveyed with simple words.

We know you have a story to tell or feelings to share as a musician. We know that music is more than sounds. Music is stories. Music is feelings. It is movements.

At Chicago Piano Tuners, we are prepared to tune your piano, your most trusted confidante, so you can use music to express feelings beyond words.

Caleb CrockettFamous Composers: How They Use Music to Express Feelings Beyond Words
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Piano sales are heating up in the Chicago area. Consider these before you buy a piano…

It’s not hard to tell that the team here at Chicago Piano Tuners loves pianos! Whether we’re tuning or playing, we can’t get enough of pianos of all ages and styles. If you’re thinking you’ve got a piano in your future, consider these before you buy a piano. It’s a big investment so you want to make sure it’s the right one for you!

Why are you looking to buy a piano? 

Pianos are beautiful instruments that provide a lifetime of musical goodness for you and your family. Or they can become the best, biggest, and most expensive laundry folding table you will ever buy. Before making the decision to buy a piano, think about your reasons.

  • Is someone in your family a promising or established pianist?
  • Are you tired of driving to and from piano lessons at a studio?
  • Does your piano student need extra practice time?

Answering yes to any or all of these questions may mean that you’re ready to buy a piano…but where to start?

Do you want a new or used piano?

A new piano means not worrying about much more than regular maintenance and having a warranty while enjoying perfect or nearly perfect pitch but it comes at a higher cost than buying used. However, even new pianos, if they are of lower quality, can change their pitch over time making them quite different than perhaps what you wanted; you may be better off spending the same on a well-kept, higher quality used piano. Your best bet is to take your pianist with you to try new and used pianos.

Play a variety of them, paying attention to the touch of the keyboard and responsiveness of the keys. While some issues can be resolved with piano tuning, you don’t want to be stuck with a lemon of a piano. We recommend visiting a dealer that has both new and used pianos so that you can get a feel for each.

What is your budget to buy a piano?

Addressing why you’re purchasing the piano is a big step toward determining how much you’re willing to spend. If you’ve got a budding pianist on your hands, you likely want a higher quality new or used piano. If you’re not sure of the level of interest or are just looking to re-engage an old hobby, then you might consider a lesser quality. Also consider the space where the piano will be showcased and the cost to move it to your home or studio. The last thing you’d want to happen is that you purchase an expensive, huge piano that won’t fit in your space!

At Chicago Piano Tuners, we are excited that you’re considering buying a piano! Whether new or used, your piano needs regular tuning and we’re happy to help. Schedule yours today.

Caleb CrockettPiano sales are heating up in the Chicago area. Consider these before you buy a piano…
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