I noticed this article by Alex ross in the Guardian with a funny quip from the President about applause:

Now, if any of you in the audience are newcomers to classical music, and aren't sure when to applaud, don't be nervous. Apparently, President Kennedy had the same problem. He and Jackie held several classical music events here, and more than once he started applauding when he wasn't supposed to. So the social secretary worked out a system where she'd signal him through a crack in the door. Now, fortunately, I have Michelle to tell me when to applaud. The rest of you are on your own."

Ross goes on to tell the history of applause and silence in classicla performance. Interesting read. I apologize if it has already been posted. I know applause was discussed here a few times.

More interesting, to me, is the instrument behind the president. A harpsichord? (or pianoforte?/ I get my old instruments confused). Does the instrument have a history? Does it belong to the White house? Notice the interesting lamp on it..



Link to article
Alex Ross on Applause

Claps we can believe in.

The instrument behind the Prez is the "White House Steinway".

Yep; ugly as sin, if you ask me. Never much liked a modern piano that is basically masquerading as a very old one.

HEY ITS PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA!

Skorpius: ?

Tuner, thanks. How old is the piano? Is it a D ?

Chill. Jeez.

Lol

What? Thats the Whitehouses piano? Since when? I thought it was an american themed piano. White, with eagles carved into the music rack or something.

No comment on Barack, but thats kind of interesting.

Saw an article in the paper for today on Yo Yo Ma. He is coming ot omaha next week. Gosh I really want to go. But he talked about playing for obama.
And having his own seat for his cello on airplanes.

PS

When you said Alex Ross... I thought it was by the guy that Owns A. Cavallo violins here in town. Thats where I bought my beautiful upright bass! Same name.

Coincidence?

You may be thinking of an earlier piano Steinway made for the White House. Seems to me I saw a picture of it in a book about Steinways. BDB knows this stuff, perhaps he can elaborate.

+1

Having a seat for the cello on airplanes is actually the norm. You can't send it with the luggage (especially if it is 270 yr old 2.5 million dollar Stradivarius) even if it were a student instrument. And airlines will no longer allow you the courtesy of standing it in the closet on board.
As for a pres who listens to Yo Yo Ma playing, what is wrong with that??? there should be regular concerts at the White House regardless of its inhabitants..

The Alex Ross I mentioned is the music critic for the New Yorker. He has a terrific blog and a recent book (The rest is Noise) about 20th century classical music.

The piano was built in 1938.

Here's Richard Nixon accompanying Pearl Bailey on the White House piano:

great pic! check out the bench!
P.S. It looks quite kitschy, especially with the gigantic gilded piano legs. The singer's outfit further reinforces the unappealing decor.

P.P.S. Is that a drop and flop that Nixon is about to demonstrate??

+1

I believe I was quite clear that I was commenting on the piano.

I'm sorry but that piano is hideous... ugh.

He's also the classical music critic for The New Yorker, a magazine I occasionally pick up off the news stand. I'm very fond of it, though sometimes I think Ross bluffs a bit. In his reviews of contemporary music, he'll sometimes refer to certain chord structures, rhythmic patterns, etc, which I don't think he could have really grasped on one hearing. Doubtful he had access to a score, and extremely doubtful he has the ear of a Boulez.

And when he once rated Korngold above Elgar, well to each his own -and I know quite a bit of Korngold- but no agreement there.

Edit: I didn't see Andromaque's recent post.

I see. I agree, Obama should have more Yo Yo Ma concerts. I wasn't saying that was a negative thing, just point out that I just saw in the paper that he did play for him.

Did Nixon really play the piano?


Found the whitehouse's old piano!

IT WAS GOLD! I want this one

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2226/2211625589_77e701988d.jpg?v=0

Good God! That's worse than the other one.

That thing has "nouveau riche' written all over it..

Similar to what Microsoft millionaires put in their living rooms overlooking Lake Washington?

Fixed.

He sure did:

The current White House piano, the one in the picture, is Steinway #300,000. The previous one is #100,000 and is in the Smithsonian.

My favorite picture of the current one is in Duke Ellington's book, with Ellington and Willie "The Lion" Smith playing duet, with The Lion wearing his derby and puffing his cigar.

Oh, and Nixon and Truman were probably the two presidents who were the best pianists.

what year where they built in? Are the serial numbers real (? serial? ). It can't be a coincidence that the WH gets the all zero numbers, right? Wonder if Steinway donates it or the WH gets to pay for it..

If memory serves, the White House owns a conventional black Steinway that is used for piano recitals.

The East Room piano is a specially built Steinway in the Federal style that seems to be used often for accompanying voice or instrumental recitals, jazz concerts, etc. It hasn't sounded extremely great on broadcasts--but not too bad for its age.

There are several smaller grands in the private living quarters, most notably a Baldwin.

The two Steinways were gifts of the Steinway family to the country.

More recently, Steinway donated some other historical instruments to the Smithsonian, #1, and the Paderewski Steinway, one that he used for a concert tour and was kept in original condition afterwards.

I've also noticed this tendency in Ross's writing, but I've always assumed it's been genuine, informed by access to the score or having perfect pitch. I'm willing to change my mind if someone points out an explicit counter-example. But until then, given the quality and integrity of the rest of his writing, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.

-Jason

There's a youtube video of a Horowitz concert at the White House while Carter was president. He played on a more attractive looking Steinway (IMO). This looks like a screen-capture from that video, actually, so apologies for the resolution. It's a decent concert, though.