Overview

A handwritten serial number inside a neglected Broadwood square piano built in 1807 launches a captivating quest to uncover the remarkable history of these now almost forgotten musical instruments.

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9781933346212

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Goold's writing shows the mark of a true storyteller . . . she shows the rise of the square [piano] as a bridge to many things: from the harpsichord to the modern piano, from the elite aristocratic society to the middling sort, from one-of-a-kind production to a business of mass production . . . can be read as much for social history as for keyboard history. -- Harpsichord & Fortepiano Magazine Goold chronicles the transformative history of the model and the instrument, both of which changed culture . . . all across the world this personal but carefully-crafted history reveals how technical innovation can advance the evolution of society. --Publishers Weekly An extraordinary book. --Booklist This is a truly remarkable and delightful book . . . We are given a wide-ranging and extremely detailed overview of the birth, mechanics and development of the square piano . . . And at the same time we meet the host of people who were involved in its production and burgeoning popularity. -- The Jane Austen Society Newsletter This delightful book is a story about the life and times of . . . a little Broadwood square piano made in 1807 . . . Goold succeeds admirably, and the thoroughness of her research is particularly impressive . . . fascinating and informative. -- Early Music America It was a serial number inside an antique piano which launched Madeline Goold on the quest to discover its first owner . . . Goold's piano was made by Broadwood, an English piano-maker so confident that it sent one of its grand pianos as a gift to Beethoven. Amazingly, Broadwood still has most of its archive records of sales from the 1770s onwards. -- The Guardian A wealth of fascinating stories and characters . . . One of the strengths of Ms. Goold's fine book is showing us how the presence of pianos expanded and deepened the cultural life . . . Ms. Goold has herself produced an enchanting work. -- The Wall Street Journal A journey that will fascinate the reader . . . a riveting glimpse into a musical and social world, all thanks to Broadwood square piano #10651. -- The Historical Novels Review

A journey that will fascinate the reader . . . a riveting glimpse into a musical and social world, all thanks to Broadwood square piano #10651. -- The Historical Novels Review

""A journey that will fascinate the reader . . . a riveting glimpse into a musical and social world, all thanks to Broadwood square piano #10651."" --""The Historical Novels Review"" ""A wealth of fascinating stories and characters . . . One of the strengths of Ms. Goold's fine book is showing us how the presence of pianos expanded and deepened the cultural life . . . Ms. Goold has herself produced an enchanting work."" --""The Wall Street Journal"" ""An extraordinary book."" ""--Booklist"" ""Goold chronicles the transformative history of the model and the instrument, both of which changed culture . . . all across the world this personal but carefully-crafted history reveals how technical innovation can advance the evolution of society."" ""--Publishers Weekly"" ""Goold's writing shows the mark of a true storyteller . . . she shows the rise of the square [piano] as a bridge to many things: from the harpsichord to the modern piano, from the elite aristocratic society to the ""middling sort,"" from one-of-a-kind production to a business of mass production . . . can be read as much for social history as for keyboard history."" --""Harpsichord & Fortepiano Magazine"" ""It was a serial number inside an antique piano which launched Madeline Goold on the quest to discover its first owner . . . Goold's piano was made by Broadwood, an English piano-maker so confident that it sent one of its grand pianos as a gift to Beethoven. Amazingly, Broadwood still has most of its archive records of sales from the 1770s onwards."" --""The Guardian"" ""This delightful book is a story about the life and times of . . . a little Broadwood square piano made in 1807 . . . Goold succeeds admirably, and the thoroughness of her research is particularly impressive . . . fascinating and informative."" --""Early Music America"" ""This is a truly remarkable and delightful book . . . We are given a wide-ranging and extremely detailed overview of the birth, mechanics and development of the square piano . . . And at the same time we meet the host of people who were involved in its production and burgeoning popularity."" --""The Jane Austen Society Newsletter""

"""A journey that will fascinate the reader . . . a riveting glimpse into a musical and social world, all thanks to Broadwood square piano #10651."" --""The Historical Novels Review"" ""A wealth of fascinating stories and characters . . . One of the strengths of Ms. Goold's fine book is showing us how the presence of pianos expanded and deepened the cultural life . . . Ms. Goold has herself produced an enchanting work."" --""The Wall Street Journal"" ""An extraordinary book."" ""--Booklist"" ""Goold chronicles the transformative history of the model and the instrument, both of which changed culture . . . all across the world this personal but carefully-crafted history reveals how technical innovation can advance the evolution of society."" ""--Publishers Weekly"" ""Goold's writing shows the mark of a true storyteller . . . she shows the rise of the square [piano] as a bridge to many things: from the harpsichord to the modern piano, from the elite aristocratic society to the ""middling sort,"" from one-of-a-kind production to a business of mass production . . . can be read as much for social history as for keyboard history."" --""Harpsichord & Fortepiano Magazine"" ""It was a serial number inside an antique piano which launched Madeline Goold on the quest to discover its first owner . . . Goold's piano was made by Broadwood, an English piano-maker so confident that it sent one of its grand pianos as a gift to Beethoven. Amazingly, Broadwood still has most of its archive records of sales from the 1770s onwards."" --""The Guardian"" ""This delightful book is a story about the life and times of . . . a little Broadwood square piano made in 1807 . . . Goold succeeds admirably, and the thoroughness of her research is particularly impressive . . . fascinating and informative."" --""Early Music America"" ""This is a truly remarkable and delightful book . . . We are given a wide-ranging and extremely detailed overview of the birth, mechanics and development of the square piano . . . And at the same time we meet the host of people who were involved in its production and burgeoning popularity."" --""The Jane Austen Society Newsletter"""

Author Information

Madeline Goold holds a law degree from the London School of Economics. A sculptor and artist, she has also taught piano, which she has played since childhood.

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