steel tensile by Stephen Paulello for instance, can be instantly adopted in the next instrument Wayne Stuart.
This research examines how the new developments in the Stuart piano design interact and perhaps catalyse, the production of new and improvised music. Although Mere Bagatelles featured relatively new music by contemporary classical Australian composers, the works were not specifically composed for the Stuart piano. It is interesting that since this recording, the Stuart piano is commonly regarded as an instrument that is suited to contemporary classical music and less suited to the classical and romantic piano repertoire. Associations can be formed quickly when a new instrument arrives on the music scene.
Public Acclaim: Beethoven, Willems and the Stuart & Sons Piano.
In 2000 a series of recordings of the complete Beethoven piano sonatas and concertos, played exclusively on the Stuart & Sons piano, was initiated by producer Brendan Ward and pianist Gerard Willems, achieving a high level of promotion and social recognition.
Two years before the release of these recordings, a sense of anticipation was portrayed successfully in reporting the progress of this recording project, featuring the new Australian piano.
Already the recordings have been acclaimed not least for the fact that they’re played on a revolutionary new Australian-made piano, known as “the Stuart”….. “The secret of his piano lies in a unique string coupling system that ensures greater tonal clarity. It also has 97 keys instead of the traditional 88. The timbers used in the Stuart include rare Tasmanian Huon pine, King William pine and Queensland Hoop instead of traditional maple, spruce or mahogany. This unique CD project has been described as climbing music’s Mt Everest – on your own”.65
The series of Beethoven recordings featuring the Willems and the Stuart piano was expanded several times.In 2013a box set of 15 discs entitled the Beethoven-Willems Collection, was commercially released containing Beethoven’s complete sonatas, concertos and variations for keyboard.
65“Beethoven, Stuart & Gerard Willems making history” Sunday.TCN Nine,Television, (Sydney: November 15, 1998). http://sgp1.paddington.ninemsn.com.au/sunday/art_profiles/article_616.asp?s=1
