Brunhilde the Bechstein has finally settled into her new home, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. Setting her up was no small task, but with some expert guidance from @keithrobinson.illustrator, we managed to get her in the perfect position -the correct way up(!) and ready for action. Wrestling this magnificent beast into place was an adventure, but it was absolutely worth it.
A huge shoutout to Stuart (@stuart_jones_pianos) for working his magic. After a massive operation, Brunhilde is now up to concert pitch and sounding better than she has in years. Stuart, you’re a wizard, and I can’t thank you enough for bringing her back to life.
To celebrate, I jumped right in and started creating something new. I climbed inside Brunhilde (!) to record some unique sounds – marking up specific notes with Post-It labels, plucking and strumming the strings, along with capturing all sorts of pedal and damper noises. These sounds are part of a bespoke sample library I’m creating for a new film score I’m working on. Exploring these textures felt like uncovering hidden secrets within the piano, and it’s already inspiring the direction of this particular project.
Literary Abuse
The only thing I had to hand to hold open a specific set of dampers was Rebecca Wragg Sykes’ wonderful book, “Kindred.” Sorry, Rebecca! I promise it’s back on my desk now, safe and sound. I’m not done reading it yet, which is why it was within arm’s reach in the first place. It’s such a fascinating read – highly recommended. And a surprisingly useful bit of studio kit 😉
This whole process has been such a rewarding journey. Brunhilde isn’t just an instrument; she feels like a creative partner, with her rich sound and unique voice breathing different shades of colour into my work. I can’t wait to see where this collaboration takes us next. Here’s to more music, more exploration, and more adventures with Brunhilde!