Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037

Ben Niles' documentary would work wonderfully as an extended commercial for the Steinway piano company, but it's notable for much more than its advertising value. Note by Note follows the loving creation of a single concert grand piano over the course of a year, from the selection of the wood through its careful treatment and aging, and the myriad stages of its construction. Interview excerpts with workers, many of whom have devoted most of their adult lives to their craft, attest to their loyalty and dedication, while snippets from late owner Henry Steinway himself underscore his firm's commitment to making instruments the old-fashioned, hand-made way (even as other companies have fallen by the wayside or changed to mass-production techniques). The result is that Steinway pianos not only boast superb quality but also possess unique “personalities,” which is illustrated through footage featuring customers ranging from families choosing an instrument for their gifted children, to established artists like Pierre-Laurent Aimard selecting a piano for an upcoming recital on the basis of its peculiar tone and range. And players—classical musicians such as Aimard, Helene Grimaud, and Lang Lang, as well as popular performers like Harry Connick, Jr., Bill Charlap, Hank Jones, and Marcus Roberts—talk about their love of music in general and the piano in particular. DVD extras include extended portraits of Steinway, various artists, and piano tuner Franz Mohr; performances by Aimard, Charlap, Jones, and Roberts; and five bonus scenes of Steinway craftsmen at work. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)