Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
The Beatles – Hey Jude
Elton John – Your Song
David Bowie – Life on Mars
Carly Simon – You’re So Vain
This list goes on – Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Supertramp, Rick Wakeman

All of these songs were recorded on a C. Bechstein grand piano. And just in case you may think that Bechstein is a piano for pop music, it is much more than that. Established in 1853, Classical legends such as Liszt, Debussy, Brahms, Scriabin, Ashkenazy, Richter, Ravel, Rachmaninoff and Bartok all played on Bechstein pianos.
At the most recent Chopin Competition, Tiankun Ma, Yulia Nakashima, Tianyao Lyu and Tony Yike Yang all performed on a C. Bechstein grand piano.
In the jazz idiom, Brubeck and Duke Ellington performed on Bechstein pianos. More recent artists like Kate Bush, Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga also have had hits utilizing Bechstein grands.

On a warm, sunny day, I sat with Morgan Franke, head of Marketing and Creative for C. Bechstein. When he presented this title statement, I thought it to be very clever and it piqued my interest. He started to name some of the most iconic songs and artists, ubiquitous not only to our generation but also from the past. He continued, “you may not have heard of Bechstein, but you’ve heard Bechstein”. While I’ve come in contact with Bechstein pianos many times before in the field and understood their extreme commitment to quality, it became apparent that I didn’t know the full reach of Bechstein and the artists who have played on them. There is no greater endorsement than composer Franz Liszt who was quoted saying “Your pianos are perfect”.

But what makes this German brand so iconic? From a pianist’s perspective, I find that Bechstein has a very distinctive tone. Bechstein has warmth within clarity. The sound is somehow perceived as lyrical and clean, where you can hear the individual voice of each note. Speaking with Torben Garlin, Concert Director and Institutional Service at Bechstein, he described to me how a large part of their sound comes from their proprietary hammerheads. C. Bechstein is the only European piano maker who manufacturers their own hammerheads. “Because we now can control this critical element, where the hammer strikes the string, we have consistency in our brand”. Bechstein hasn’t always made their own hammers. They have had a long-standing relationship with Renner in Germany. But since 2012, C.Bechstein has gone to great lengths to design and produce their own hammerheads, undergoing a 2-year testing and R&D period. In the state-of-the-art facility, each aspect of hammerhead making is accurately controlled. Rather than voicing and altering the hammer to the piano, stated Torben, we can make the hammer for the model of piano that is best suited to it, reducing the need to transform the hammer completely through manipulation. During the manufacturing of hammerheads, there is complete control over the felt selection, wood type that is used, density, weight and dimensions – all which have a direct impact into tone and touch.

Sitting at the D282 C. Bechstein Concert grand pictured above, my first impressions playing this magnificent grand is that I’m not fighting friction or pushing the keys but allowing my fingers to simply fall into the keys. The weight of the hammers feels comfortable. My perception is that the piano touch is somehow dynamic and energized. It feels like I have power in reserve to perform. At a more quiet level of playing, the action feels comfortable and relaxed, allowing you to weave a lyrical, musical line. The delicate playing becomes a light brushstroke, a wisp of tone. And at extreme dynamic levels, playing becomes a very engaging conversation with the piano and can become thunderous. But it’s this unique voice that draws me in. And at the NAMM show where several uprights and grands are on display by C.Bechstein, you can hear the common thread of those hammers. It’s definitely a signature sound.

But tone and touch would be nothing without the underpinnings of structure to create resonance and sustain. European alpine wood logged from high altitude in the mountains creates slow growth in the tree’s rings lending itself to more optimal resonance. Incorporating this into the C.Bechstein pianos brings about the sustain and resonance to each instrument. And there are so many more details that make up the C. Bechstein pianos: the traditional sand-cast iron plate, the hand-wound strings, the pinblock, the carpentry involved in making their frames. The list goes on.
One thing I find fascinating and an important part of C.Bechstein philosophy is stress management. I use that term with a bit of tongue in cheek because I’m not speaking about stress within the company but in regards to resting the parts of the piano. They believe that tone-wood needs to mature, to rest after undergoing bending, shaping and joining. Throughout the various steps of piano making, their pianos undergo periods of rest. Even their cast iron rests. What this practically means is that their manufacturing is not rushed. It is not hurried but rather, deliberate and paced, waiting for the instrument to reveal its voice rather than forcing it to become so.
Another interesting aspect about C. Bechstein is that all of their apprentices take piano lessons during their 3 1/2 year program. I believe this gives purpose to those working on pianos each day. It answers the question “why?” Because of the music. Many of the factory workers also take piano lessons as well. With many of their team taking lessons, I believe there is more pride in their jobs, more purpose that ultimately becomes more music built into each piano.

Below are some videos of their manufacturing that I found quite interesting. They are part of a youtube series entitled “C. Bechstein Resonances – The Documentary”.

At the end of my talk with Morgan, I came to appreciate more, the scope and breadth of Bechstein. People who interact with their pianos understand their musical essence – like a long-time friend, they reveal tones that sing and offer beauty, lending themselves to explore creativity. But he didn’t need to convince me of the merits of Bechstein. I’ve owned one for years. When you speak with any technician or any piano afficionado, Bechstein is a well-known giant in the industry. If you haven’t yet tried one, you should. They’re life-changing.

C. Bechstein also manufactures W. Hoffmann and Zimmermann pianos, offering many different options of cabinetry and price points for everyone.