WTVP Headlines

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Note By Note (The Making of Steinway L1037)

Friday, September 11th, 2009

In an age of mass production and consumption, what is the role of the musician — both an instrument’s craftsman and its player? Musically, what have we gained? Perhaps more important, what are we losing?

Note by Note (The Making of Steinway L1037) follows the creation of a Steinway concert grand, #L1037, from forest floor to concert hall. The program explores the relationship between musician and instrument, chronicles the manufacturing process and illustrates what makes each Steinway unique in this age of mass production. Deemed “Engrossing!” by The Village Voice and “Delightful” by The Washington Post, the program airs Monday, September 14 at 9:00 p.m. on WTVP.

The most thoroughly handcrafted instruments in the world, Steinway pianos are as unique and full of personality as the world-class musicians who play them. From the factory floor in Queens to Steinway Hall in Manhattan, each piano’s journey is complex — spanning 12 months, 12,000 parts, 450 craftsmen and countless hours of fine-tuned labor. Filmed in key Steinway locations — the factory, Steinway’s reserved “bank” and at private auditions — the documentary is a loving celebration of not only craftsmanship, but also a vanishing class of individuals who are deeply connected to working by hand.

The documentary weaves a common thread of emotion and delight through the insights of musicians, from jazz-aficionados to indie rockers, woodworkers, educators and journalists, and a carefully selected score that ranges from cartoon favorites Tom and Jerry to complex modern pieces performed by famed pianist Pierre Laurent Aimard.

In the end, Note by Note is an ode to the most unexpected, and perhaps ironic, of unsung heroes. It reminds viewers how extraordinary the dialogue can be between an artist and an instrument — crafted by human hands but born of the materials of nature.

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For further information contact Linda Miller, WTVP Vice President of Programming, at (309) 495-0591 or linda.miller@wtvp.org

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