May 2018

May 2018

As summer begins with Memorial Day and winds its way to the 4th of July, we at Chicago Piano Tuners want to take time to acknowledge the brave souls who have fought for our freedom. If not for them, we may not be here sharing our passion for music, including wartime piano melodies. Historically, music has been a cherished companion in times of war, and for good reason.

Music is more than a lovely sound to our ears.

Music speaks to our hearts and encourages and lifts our spirits in dark and difficult times. Wartime has traditionally been a time to generate songs of patriotism and support. People see loved ones off to war, can find solace in music. Here are a few of our favorite wartime piano melodies.

Battle Hymn of the Republic (Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory)

Battle Hymn of the Republic, also known as Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory, was written by Julia Ward Howe in February of 1862, during the Civil War. The song was first viewed by the public when the lyrics were published in the Atlantic Monthly. The Civil War was a trying time for all those touched by the war, and this melody kept many men and women “marching on” with its empowering lyrics and upbeat rhythm.

Keep the Home Fires Burning (Till the Boys Come Home)

Keep the Home Fires Burning is a lesser known song, but worthy of mention. Composed by Ivor Novello with lyrics written by Lena Guilbert Ford, this was a British patriotic song written in 1914, during the First World War. The song was first published as Till the Boys Come Home on October 8, 1914. The encouraging lyrics of this wartime melody are a perfect example of what these tunes set out to do in these trying times.

Let no tears add to their hardships

As the soldiers pass along,

And although your heart is breaking,

Make it sing this cheery song

God Bless America

Last, but certainly not least, is the famous and beloved American patriotic melody, God Bless America. Although it was written by Irving Berlin in 1918, for a World War I review, it was withheld. In 1938, it was revised and released for World War II. God Bless America lyrically takes the form of a prayer for God’s blessing and peace for the nation.

God bless America

Land that I love

Stand beside her

And guide her

Through the night with the light from above

Are you singing along? We are! We love these and so many other wartime songs. As piano tuners and music lovers, we’re proud to say we contribute to musicians’ ability to compose music for the next generation.

Small cost now eliminates larger repair costs later.

Investing a little extra in your piano initially can save you extravagant repair and upkeep costs down the road. A piano inspection could cost you $150 up front, but it could also save you upwards of $1000 down the road, should you find that the piano is not equal in value to the money you invested. A tech will be able to tell you if the cost is appropriate for the quality of the piano, and pinpoint any major or minor issues.

You aren’t the Chicago piano expert.

While you might be an expert pianist, you may not be able to properly assess the quality of a piano simply by looking at or playing it. Fortunately, there are experts trained just for this role ready to assist in this situation.

Enrolling a trained piano tech to conduct a proper piano inspection in addition to the assessment given to you by the salesperson, is a wise choice. No one holds all the information, so the more eyes and hands on your piano, the better.

Be picky about your piano dealer.

The best case scenario would be purchasing your piano from a pre-owned certified dealer who offers a piano warranty. There is no route safer than this, and it is the option that will leave you with the most peace of mind when making this large purchase.

Research in your area and ask any friends you may know with a piano where they made their purchases, and if they are happy with the outcome. There is a community of piano owners in the Chicago area they are always happy to provide valuable insight.

At Chicago Piano Tuners, we want every piano experience you have to be a positive one. Because of this, we hope you will consider investing in a piano inspection for your next piano purchase. As always, we will be here continually providing you with knowledge, know-how, and insight for your piano related ponderings.