Martin Seuffert   in Wien   ca.1813

 

 

6 Octaves FF-f''' - Viennese action (with ca.2,3 gramm hammers)

4 pedals and a kneelever : Una chorda - Double moderator - Bassoon

                                                                                  Dampers lift, kneelever operates moderator.

This is one of the most important pianos of the music history

because it is the oldest known of 3 preserved grand fortepianos

of this important maker who was addressed by Beethoven in

his letter to Varena in 1815, recommending his pianos and

those of Johann Schanz as the best pianos of that day in Vienna.

 

''"Mein werther V.!Nicht wohl, sehr beschäftigt war es mir nicht

möglich mich selbst zu erkundigen, bis gestern – nun meine

Resultate Von Schanz können sie ein so gutes piano, als er sie

nur immer zu liefern im Stande ist, für den Preiß von 400 fl. W.W.

Sammt Emballage mit 6 – 8 ven haben – Seiffert verlangt 460

würde es wohl auch um 400 geben – Es giebt aber noch Brave

meister, wie ich höre, wo man ein gutes dauerhaftes auch noch

ziemlich unter dem Preiß von 400 fl. bekommen könnte. – das ist

aber nicht alles gleich geschwind ausgesucht, gefunden – gut –

wie sie es von Rechtswegen haben müßen. – daher müste ich mehr

Zeit haben – Antworten sie mir nun bald ob sie derley Preise genehmigen, alsdenn haben sie in einigen Wochen ein gutes dauerhaftes Piano. – ..."

 

In the Radbon collection you can find 4 pianos of Beethoven's time that were address by Beethoven and recommended to his friends to buy from makers like Schanz, Walter and Seuffert. The Walter of the collection dates back to ca.1809, Seuffert ca.1813 and Schanz ca.1822. (Please refer to each page of these pianos to find more information).

 

Martin Seuffert came from a

long family tree of organ

builders in Germany.

There are several organs

made by him and his past

generations

preserved in various churches

in Germany.

Please find the list on

wikipedia.

 

 

Martin Seuffert was born 1773 in Würzburg; † 3. Juli 1847 in Vienna. In 1802 he was

already working as one of Anton Walter's pupils in Vienna and made a fabric for fortepiano making with Joseph Wachtl

and Jakob Bleyer with special focus on upright pianos in various forms. Among them giraff piano is the most exciting type and he struggled to establish these types of upright pianos under his own name and there are several documents from that time which shows these tryings and those who did not accept that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Till 1827 he worked with his Gesellen in his own workshop under the addres ''Auf der Wieden in der Favoritengasse zum goldenen Hirschen'', then he started to work with his colleague Johann Seidler with whom he brought up the firma into its high level. After his death his son Eduard Seuffert who was a very well informed piano maker started to work with his father's colleague and the fabric was called Seuffert Sohn& Seidler after 1842.

More information about Seuffert&Sidler and also Seuffert Sohn&Seidler is on each page dedicated to these pianos which are fortunately each of both an example in this collection.