“I believe that the instruments of all times had tone-colors and effects that we cannot produce on the pianoforte of to-day ; that the compositions were always intended for the character of the instrument in use, and only on such could be heard fully as intended. Played on the pianoforte of to-day would be heard to disadvantage… We can know nothing decidedly of the instruments of that day; even th
ose to be found in the museums… give us no idea, since time would destroy the tone of a piano entirely beyond recognition. It is strange how little the professional instrument-makers know of these things!” Anton Rubinstein, Music and its Masters, 1892
A.Rubinstein (1829-1894) great piano virtuoso, composer and educator, the founder of Petersburg and (together with his brother Nikolai) Moscow Conservatories and founder of the Russian piano school.
