The Cobbe Collection

Viennese Grand Piano by Conrad Graf, Vienna, c. 1819-20, with quadruple stringing

Graf was regarded as one of the supreme makers and his instruments were owned by both Schubert and Beethoven; the latter’s was also quadruple strung. Later composers who owned or chose to play Graf instruments include Chopin, Schumann, Liszt and Mahler. This is one of the very few surviving Grafs with the quadruple-stringing, having four strings to a note, instead of the usual three, producing a fuller tone.

Happy Birthday Edvard Grieg (b. 1843)! One of the more recent additions in our collection, this 1904 Steinway that belonged to the Speyer family, was used in one of their soirées, to which many notable composers were invited to perform - Grieg, , , … Henry Wood noted a particular anecdote related to : during a concert in 1906, at which Grieg was about to accompany a recital of songs by his wife Nina, on the way to the piano, he tripped over a tiger skin rug and fell, his spirits had to be revived with some brandy, swiftly produced by the host.

Happy Birthday Edward Elgar!

To celebrate, our Piano of the Week is a beautiful Broadwood piano built in 1844 and once owned by the renowned English composer.

On the soundboard of the piano Elgar recorded the titles of the works he was mainly busy with at Birchwood - Caractacus, Sea Pictures, Dream of Gerontius and… Mr Rabbit! Who might have been added on the suggestion of Elgar's daughter Carice as their pet companion and witness to the works.

Listen to this historic instrument in action through the Bloomberg Connects app.

The property of the Royal Academy of Music, on permanent loan to the Cobbe Collection Trust.

Discover the full story behind this piano on our website: https://www.cobbecollection.co.uk/elgars-broadwood-piano/

Join us this Thursday in welcoming students from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama alongside acclaimed keyboard player James Johnstone for an afternoon of chamber music. The 1781 Kirkman harpsichord returns to the Music Room for this special performance.

Limited tickets available below
https://www.cobbecollection.co.uk/event/guildhall-cantata-ensemble-12/