In his second article in the New York Times series "Invention for 900 Hands" (June 10, 2003), James Barron continues to follow one concert grand piano as it is made at Steinway's factory in Astoria, Queens. A hunk of glued-together wood called the sounding board will give the piano its recognizable tonal signature--more than any other of 12,000 parts, it will largely determine whether piano No K0862 is big and gutsy or warm and mellow. He explains that all Steinways are made same way by the same people in the same factory, yet each is different. The reasons for this are a mystery, but the craftsmen, each playing different role, are at the heart of the answer.

For additional information from the Loper website about grand pianos, please see A Piano in the Parlor.

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