The Tricentennial Limited Edition Piano - The Concept
- 360 Degree View
- The Concept
- The History
- The Biography
As Jackson approached the complex task of creating a design that would be innovative while maintaining the traditional beauty of the Steinway piano, he was aware that great care had to be taken. "The very simplest alteration to the classic form would require a change in the way people perceive the piano," he says. "After all, it has been an iconic symbol for three centuries. Therefore, any alterations could be considered only if they enhanced the design and validity of the piano." As a first step towards creating the new Tricentennial design, Jackson reduced the piano to its essential form-a wood case enclosing a cast-iron harp or plate - and began designing it from the "instrument's soul" out.
Jackson asserts that the final design of the Tricentennial breaks with traditional piano design by creating a continuous, flowing line form the back of the piano to the floor, merging the piano's body and legs. Typically, Jackson says, this flow is interrupted with a series of stepped details reminiscent of classic Hellenic columns and structures.
Innovations
Aside from reconceiving the overall "look" of the grand piano for the limited-edition Tricentennial, Jackson also redefined many of the piano's individual components for heightened functionality and elegance:
- Lid design: when open, the lid folds back on itself in a series of tapered sections, which fall at an angle, creating a fanned effect.
- Lid topstick: the topstick hugs the case's inside "S" curve when the lid is closed, and becomes a striking design element when opened.
- Music desk: designed to hold sheet music like a pair of open hands, the angular music desk is mounted on a bearing to roll smoothly toward and away from the player.
- The piano's lines: the rim line slopes down at a 6-degree angle as it approaches the tapered leg, and then takes what Jackson calls, "a dramatic turn toward the floor."
- The rim and legs: the Tricentennial rim is raised in back, and the rear leg has been pulled forward and inward, creating a cantilever. All three unadorned legs taper gently to the casters on which they rest.