Secession

Bösendorfer Architecture Series

Unity in Diversity

In 1897 in Vienna, a group of Austrian artists split off from the traditional Vienna Künstlerhaus with the slogan “Ver Sacrum” (holy spring). “A fresh wind shall blow, which shall sweep away the backwardness of the Künstlerhaus.” Led by Gustav Klimt, many artistic greats followed, among them Koloman Moser, Josef Hoffmann and Joseph Maria Olbrich. They shaped the Secession style, which is often also called Viennese Jugendstil. With this splitting off, the need for a building for the new artistic association emerged, where the artworks could be exhibited. Inspired by Otto Wagner and Gustav Klimt, Joseph Maria Olbrich drafted the Secession building, a “temple of art” and one of the key works of Viennese Jugendstil. Especially impressive is how the Secession movement realizes its motto Ver Sacrum with the cupola’s leaf canopy. The building’s towering symbol exhibits a diameter of 9 metres. Gossamer gold leaf, ingeniously applied to the green-coloured leaves, accounts for the overwhelming, luminous effect.

To every age its art, to every art its freedom.

Ludwig Havesi (1843 - 1910)

Secession 2018 (c) Jorit Aust

The design takes the towering symbol of the Secession, the laurel leaves, in ornamented form from the façade, and brings them in 23-carat gold on the classic black background of the inside of the lid to the radiance. The cast frame continues this shine with 23-carat gold plating. Both, the inside of the inner rim and the pinblock refer to the motto „Ver Sacrum“ with the tender green of the laurel leaves from the dome. Letter by letter, this motto is engraved and 23-carat gilded in the music stand along with other elements of the main façade. Further elements from the secession building decorate the legs of the grand piano. Hand-gilded lines framing the lid edge and lyre box. The Secession Grand Piano 214VC Vienna Concert combines technology, design and handcraft into a total work of art. As a member of the Collector‘s Item the design is limited to 21 instruments and comes with an individually numbered plate. The Bösendorfer Secession Grand Piano exudes the creative power of the Secessionists: unity in diversity but also the revolutionary idea of Beethoven's 9th Symphony - a zeitgeist that will probably never lose its validity.

Art, music and craftmanship: a symbiosis of all levels of Austrian culture.
The Bösendorfer Collector's Item Secession – Unity in Diversity

The zeitgeist of the Secessionists and the Grand Piano as a Total Piece of Art

214 cm

151 cm

102 cm

214 cm

Dimensions Bösendorfer Grand Piano 214VC

Resonance Case Principle

Details

Very similar in principle to a violin the whole body - not exclusively the soundboard - supports sound formation. The actual core of the piano rim consists of a 10 mm quarter-sawn piece that is specially grooved by our craftsmen to allow it to be bent to the silhouette around the inner rim. This is unique to Bösendorfer. When a note is played, the integrated spruce components become acoustically active, forming a complete resonating body that allows the whole instrument to project your play. An outstanding richness of tone colour and our legendary pure and brilliant sound is crafted this way. This complex construction is part of the Viennese tradition of piano making.

From delicate pianissimo to splendid fortissimo

Details

A Bösendorfer Grand shows optimal controllability. Developed in cooperation with artists and technicians our action is crafted to our own, refined specification. This action is built to transfer the finest articulation of masterful play. Controllability at play.

Unique bass strings

Details

All bass strings are spun in our unique Bösendorfer way. A steel core string is the basis for 1 or two layers of copper. The carefully spun strings are a substantial element of the warm and sonorous Bösendorfer bass

Independent Capo d’Astro

Details

Bösendorfer is the only piano manufacturer that applies a detachable and independent Capo d’Astro in the upper register. This is how we assure an utmost precise adjustment in the upper register guaranteeing the original Bösendorfer Sound for generations: Unique sound for more than one generation.

Traditional Sand Cast

Details

We are using the traditional sand casting to forge our frame. Our raw frames, produced in Austria, rest 6 months outside the factory. This is how all inner strain of the forging process are released allowing the frame to remain relaxed under 20 tons of string tension. Pure stability.

Open pinblock

Details

Tonal stability at its best: Our open pinblock consists out of 3 layers of 7mm quarter sawn maple, glued cross-grained to each other. Settled on a base of red beech this construction offers a firm basis for the pins tied with strings. The top layer is refined with a 1.5mm walnut veneer. Our open pin block: a sound basis indeed.

Individually stringing

Details

Each string is individually attached with a handmade loop. Over time this improves tuning stability and is particularly service friendly.

Nature

Details

The basis of each Bösendorfer Grand is spruce that is naturally dried by air and has proven to be the ideal tone wood. The four seasons, sun, wind and wide temperature differences gently prepare this wood for its final purpose: to resonate. At Bösendorfer we use more than 80% of spruce tone wood building our instruments, more than any other manufacturer. When you add the natural drying process to our manufacturing time, it actually takes 6 years until the Bösendorfer Grand arrives at your doorstep. Precious time, necessary to craft the unique Bösendorfer Sound.

Made in Austria

Details

Bösendorfer Grands are not just an object of investment but of value that will last more than one generation. Our skilled Bösendorfer Artisans reveal the inner beauty of the Bösendorfer sound, unique in colour, dynamics and expression. Perfected throughout generations. It takes the dedication of our Bösendorfer Artisans for up to a year to build your Bösendorfer Grand. A personal touch that you will sense the moment you play. Austrian quality, Viennese soul.

Vienna Concert

Details

Brilliant colours, energetic dynamics and a unique mechanical action: the new Vienna Concert technology is the sound for the next generation.

Grand Piano

Details

Uncompromising traditional handcrafting, beauty and the Viennese soul. Made in Austria for close to two centuries, since 1828. The sole limitation of your Bösendorfer Grand is its surrounding. Everything else is taken care of by us. Our instruments will unveil the fine nuances of the music you play - key by key, yet unseen and unheard.

Collector's Item

Details

A tribute to precious materials, breath-taking aesthetics and master craftsmanship. Unique in design, sound and perfection: our Bösendorfer Collector's Edition. Exclusivity for the eye.

Disklavier Edition

Details

Listen to the grand works of great masters of piano music without lifting one single finger. After all, every pianist deserves a break. The Bösendorfer Disklavier Edition will surprise you by playing back any performance with ultimate precision and refinement. Listen to Rachmaninoff playing his own works, wonder about the mystical interpretations of Arthur Rubinstein, groove to Oscar Peterson’s tunes: Our Bösendorfer Disklavier Edition comes with more than 1.000 recordings of different styles and genres. We apply the most sophisticated system there is, the Disklavier Enspire player technology developed by Yamaha. Pianists cannot only enjoy listing to a library of performances but immediately record and play back their very own music.

Silent Edition

Details

This sound miracle can also be enjoyed in the middle of the night with the Bösendorfer Silent Edition. We only use the state of the art Yamaha Silent SH System which does not alter mechanical nor acoustic qualities in the slightest. Musical inspiration, acoustic and digital in nature: glistening sound waves oscillating in two worlds.

Product changes reserved. Photos of products, colours and veneer patterns shown serve as sample. The actual colour of the selected materials may differ.