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Notting Hill London England

Notting Hill


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  • Chas Foulds & Son (Derby) Ltd

    40 Irongate
    Derby, Derbyshire DE1 3GA
    England

    Charles Foulds opened the first Foulds shop in

  • Pianoroom

    154 Sidwell Street
    Exeter, Devon EX4 6RT
    England

    Founded in April 2007 and following on from the

  • Academy Pianos

    St. Francis Hall
    Baccabox Lane
    Birmingham, West Midlands B47 5DD
    England

    Buying the right piano is often a difficult task,

  • Stuart Jones Piano Sales

    18-20 Mochdre Industrial Estate
    Newtown
    Newtown, Powys SY16 4LE
    Wales/Cymru

    Based in the picturesque Mid-Wales countryside

  • The Piano Pavilion

    Colonial House
    Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS0 9ST
    England

    We specialise in reconditioned and restored

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Did You Know Music Facts

Daniel Steibelt vs Beethoven
Daniel Steibelt was a German born classical pianist and composer. He challenged Beethoven to a musical duel in Vienna in 1800. Steibelt studied with Johann Kirberger before he joined the Prussian army.
The Vienna’s music patrons liked the idea of a duel between Steibelt and Beethoven. Each musician got a Prince to sponsor the idea. Since Steibelt was the challenger, he was to play first. In a cocky move, he tossed his sheet music aside. He was renowned for his storm-like bass and that night, apparently he did indeed conjure up a storm. He was greatly applauded. After his piece, all eyes were on Beethoven. Historian Alexander Wheelock Thayer speaks to the growing rivalry between the two:

“When Steibelt came to Vienna with his great name, some of Beethoven’s friends grew alarmed lest he do injury to the latter’s reputation. Steibelt did not visit him; they met first time one evening at the house of Count Fries Eight days later there was again a concert at Count Fries’s; Steibelt again played a quintet which had a good deal of success. He also played an improvisation (which had, obviously, been carefully prepared) …

This incensed the admirers of Beethoven and him; he had to go to the pianoforte and improvise. He went in his usual … manner to the instrument as if half-pushed, picked up the violoncello part of Steibelt’s quintet in passing, placed it (intentionally?) upon the stand upside down and with one finger drummed a theme out of the first few measures.”

Beethoven picked up the sheet music that Steibelt had tossed aside, and chose to play it upside down. Beethoven then proceeded to improvise an opus based on just three notes of Steibelt’s music. He created his own “storm,” he embellished, and mocked what he felt was Steibelt’s simplistic piece. Steibelt stormed out of the room while Beethoven was still playing. His benefactor Prince followed him out. Completely humiliated, Steibelt decided he’d never set foot in Vienna again as long as Beethoven lived there. Beethoven lived out his days in the city and the embarrassed Steibelt never returned. It’s tough to challenge a master, especially a master in his own city with his own fans and his own Princes to back him up.