Maene Explained
Maene is a piano and harpsichord manufacturer based in Ruiselede, Belgium.
The company was founded by Albert Maene-Doutreloigne and Zulma Doutreloigne in 1938. It is currently under the direction of their son Chris Maene.[1] [2]
The company produces replicas of historical instruments[3] [4] and develops new instruments like the Barenboim piano, which contained no crossed strings.[5] [6] [7] [8]
From 2016 to 2022, Maene collaborated with architect Rafael Viñoly on a novel piano design with a curved ergonomic keyboard that could facilitate easier access to the lowest and highest notes simultaneously.[9] [10]
A foot longer than a typical concert grand and like the Barenboim piano hosting no crossed strings, the Maene-Viñoly piano was completed in 2022 and premiered at the Verbier Festival played by Kirill Gerstein.[11] In the months after Viñoly's death, the instrument was hosted at the Philadelphia Orchestra[12] and featured at a Carnegie Hall concert in November of 2023 where it was played by Jonathan Biss.[9]
The company also provides keyboard instruments for the Queen Elisabeth Competition.[13]
References
- Web site: About Pianos Maene . Maene . 2 January 2024.
- Web site: Chris Maene . Chris Maene . 2 January 2024.
- http://www.steinway.be/pianos-maene#Steinway%20Replica Steinway Replica n°1 (1836 - 2006)
- http://www.hambacher-schloss.de/component/eventlist/details/85-steinwayno1_konzert Pianokonzert: Steinway No.1
- https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/may/26/daniel-barenboim-reveals-radical-new-piano-design-ive-fallen-in-love-with-it Daniel Barenboim reveals radical new piano design: 'I've fallen in love with it'
- http://www.chrismaene.be/en/news/chris-maene-workshop/barenboim_maene_concert_grand.aspx Chris Maene & Daniel Barenboim launch new concert grand at Royal Festival Hall London
- https://www.classicfm.com/artists/daniel-barenboim/news/new-piano-steinway/ Daniel Barenboim's bespoke piano is an absolute stunner - here's why
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGEYFK4J6yU The 'radical' Barenboim piano unveiled
- News: Barron . James . A Piano With a Curved Keyboard Will Star at Carnegie Hall . 2 January 2024 . The New York Times . 28 November 2023.
- Web site: The Maene-Viñoly Concert Grand Piano . Chris Maene.
- Web site: Predota . Georg . Maene-Viñoly Concert Grand Piano “Ergonomic Keyboard” . Interlude . Interlude . 2 January 2024 . 31 July 2022.
- Web site: The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc., to Display Maene-Viñoly Concert Grand Piano in its U.S. Debut at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts . The Philadelphia Orchestra . 2 January 2024 . 1 June 2023.
- http://www.maene.be/nl/news/merken/KEW15viool.aspx Koningin Elisabethwestrijd 2015
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