Some
times a recording opportunity crosses my path whose music is a
delight. That was the case with the recent Off the Hook Arts
Pianothon. All things came together to make it nearly perfect, a
greeat emprisario in Jephta Bernstein, a Fort Collins landmark the
lobby of the Northern Hotel, a fully restored Erard Grand Piano 1879,
and a host of pianists and musicians.
Jephta
Bernstein who organized and carried out the whole affair with the
help of local volunteers, was indefatiguable . Her efforts with “Off
the Hook” is well worth supporting. They provide musical learning
and performance opportunities for youth and a community has formed
around her efforts. This is a group that is well worth supporting.
She is passing on the legaccy of great music for the next generation
and providing joy and salve for the soul.
The
Northern Hotel is a long time landmark of Old Town Fort Collins . It
began as a hotel for visitors that came to FortCollins via the
railroad. The building was remodeled to an Art Deco exterior in the
1930's and subsequently the interior remained Greek Revival, with its
bueatidul Corinthian Columns.
The
acoustics qre perfect for lice recording of acoustic music. Amplified
music would not fare so well. Check out the Lobby the next time you
are in Old Town.
Into
this space, the 1879 Erard Grand Piano found a perfect home for
recording. The piano sound bloomed in this space. We used a Neumann
TLM-103 to capure the bass resonance and an AKG-414 near the hammers
on the treble side to pick up the definitio of the highs. These were
combined with 2 matched ribbon mics for the stereo image and I am
very pleased with the results.
Eleven
hours of music later and some time in post production I am happy with
the results. It all came out to eleven discs total.
-Adrian
