I was recently reading of a Bosendorfer Model 290, containing 97 keys (9 extra sub-bass notes).

"It is the only concert grand in the world to have nine sub-bass notes, down to bottom C, giving it a full eight octave compass keyboard. These extra notes enable some compositions to be accurately performed, which were originally scored with lower notes, by composers such as Bartók, Debussy, Ravel and Busoni. Special construction features have a very positive influence on the overtones produced when the piano is played, and helps to create the maximum range of both power and volume, and allows the smallest subtle variations in sound to be heard, across the whole range of the piano."

The reason I ask this forum and not the piano forum, is that it mentions works by various composers were scored with notes below a piano range. I was very curious about these works.

Any pieces come to mind?

I think I know Ravel's piano music pretty well, and I can't think of anything scored below bottom A. (of course I could be wrong...)

The only pseudo-exception is Jeux d'eau, which begs for the g# below bottom a (measure 49). The editions I have, though, all write it in as the A. I suspect Ravel wrote in the A, since he probably composed it on a Pleyel or an Erard. Also, I think Bosendorfer put in the extra notes at the suggestion of Busoni around 1900. Ravel published Jeux d'eau in 1901.

Im pretty sure some of Ravel's larger works should technically use them even if its written without them, and i know Messiaen uses them, his Petite esquisses d'oiseaux was written specifically for the big bosendorfer..incidentally its the best piano piano ive ever played, my favorite, better than all the steinways ive ever played and better than the fazioli concert grands ive played
Stuart and Sons also makes a piano with extra keys, i believe it extends the keyboard down to f in the bass, and up to f in the trebel, never seen one in real life but they sure look beautiful on the website.

There's a spot in Ravel's Miroirs that begs for a G# too.

Scarbo would ask for the G, and the G#, as well as in Jeux d'eau and Une barque sur l'ocean. So yes, you're wrong.

Really? He actually wrote in something lower than bottom A in Scarbo, Jeux d'eau and Une barque sur l'ocean? Which measures?

Oscar Peterson has a custom made grand piano with an additional bass octave. He brings his piano to all of his performances.

He didn't write it, but he clearly and certainly intended it.

ahhh. thanks for the clarification.

Busoni's transcription of the Bach Violin Chaconne in d minor begs for the low G toward the end of the piece.

oscar peterson plays the bosendorfer...so does tori amos

A question about the Ravel pieces; since the pianos with extra bass notes came after or around the same time that he wrote his music, why didn't he make changes in the notation? Just wondering.

They didn't come around the same time.

Also Ravel's G major concerto ends in A-G, not G-G, as it "should" be.

-_- That's an obvious example of the limitations of his pianos.

If there were extra notes in the bottom, he would have scored a low G.