Why does a 97 / 92 key piano exist by Bösendorfer?
23
Pianos normally have 88 keys, ranging from A0 to C8. One of Bösendorfer's pianos go down to F below the low A. The other model goes down to C. How did this happen?
piano history
edited Mar 20 at 14:29
Richard
43.5k7100186
asked Mar 19 at 23:33
Maika SakuranomiyaMaika Sakuranomiya
9061430
add a comment |
23
Pianos normally have 88 keys, ranging from A0 to C8. One of Bösendorfer's pianos go down to F below the low A. The other model goes down to C. How did this happen?
piano history
edited Mar 20 at 14:29
Richard
43.5k7100186
asked Mar 19 at 23:33
Maika SakuranomiyaMaika Sakuranomiya
9061430
6
Personally, I'd ask the opposite question - why did everybody else stop at 88? I mean, I very rarely see any music which uses the top or bottom octave on a standard 88, but that's no reason to not give people the option. Also, if you're looking at any music, say, before mid-Beethoven, they only had a 5-octave range anyhow, so composers faced the same limitations as players. Who knows what they would've written had they the range to do so? You can even see in some early Beethoven where he was struggling to fit certain motifs within the range of the smaller pianos that existed at the time.
– Darrel Hoffman
Mar 20 at 15:10
2
@DarrelHoffman - I've seen the bottom octave of the piano used often enough in classical music. In several of those cases, I've even seen those notes notated with ledger lines but no ottava lines.
– Dekkadeci
Mar 20 at 15:31
add a comment |
23
23
23
1
Pianos normally have 88 keys, ranging from A0 to C8. One of Bösendorfer's pianos go down to F below the low A. The other model goes down to C. How did this happen?
piano history
edited Mar 20 at 14:29
Richard
43.5k7100186
asked Mar 19 at 23:33
Maika SakuranomiyaMaika Sakuranomiya
9061430
Pianos normally have 88 keys, ranging from A0 to C8. One of Bösendorfer's pianos go down to F below the low A. The other model goes down to C. How did this happen?
piano history
piano history
edited Mar 20 at 14:29
Richard
43.5k7100186
asked Mar 19 at 23:33
Maika SakuranomiyaMaika Sakuranomiya
9061430
edited Mar 20 at 14:29
Richard
43.5k7100186
asked Mar 19 at 23:33
Maika SakuranomiyaMaika Sakuranomiya
9061430
edited Mar 20 at 14:29
Richard
43.5k7100186
edited Mar 20 at 14:29
Richard
43.5k7100186
edited Mar 20 at 14:29
Richard
43.5k7100186
43.5k7100186
asked Mar 19 at 23:33
Maika SakuranomiyaMaika Sakuranomiya
9061430
asked Mar 19 at 23:33
Maika SakuranomiyaMaika Sakuranomiya
9061430
asked Mar 19 at 23:33
Maika SakuranomiyaMaika Sakuranomiya
9061430
9061430
6
Personally, I'd ask the opposite question - why did everybody else stop at 88? I mean, I very rarely see any music which uses the top or bottom octave on a standard 88, but that's no reason to not give people the option. Also, if you're looking at any music, say, before mid-Beethoven, they only had a 5-octave range anyhow, so composers faced the same limitations as players. Who knows what they would've written had they the range to do so? You can even see in some early Beethoven where he was struggling to fit certain motifs within the range of the smaller pianos that existed at the time.
– Darrel Hoffman
Mar 20 at 15:10
2
@DarrelHoffman - I've seen the bottom octave of the piano used often enough in classical music. In several of those cases, I've even seen those notes notated with ledger lines but no ottava lines.
– Dekkadeci
Mar 20 at 15:31
add a comment |
6
Personally, I'd ask the opposite question - why did everybody else stop at 88? I mean, I very rarely see any music which uses the top or bottom octave on a standard 88, but that's no reason to not give people the option. Also, if you're looking at any music, say, before mid-Beethoven, they only had a 5-octave range anyhow, so composers faced the same limitations as players. Who knows what they would've written had they the range to do so? You can even see in some early Beethoven where he was struggling to fit certain motifs within the range of the smaller pianos that existed at the time.
– Darrel Hoffman
Mar 20 at 15:10
2
@DarrelHoffman - I've seen the bottom octave of the piano used often enough in classical music. In several of those cases, I've even seen those notes notated with ledger lines but no ottava lines.
– Dekkadeci
Mar 20 at 15:31
6
6
Personally, I'd ask the opposite question - why did everybody else stop at 88? I mean, I very rarely see any music which uses the top or bottom octave on a standard 88, but that's no reason to not give people the option. Also, if you're looking at any music, say, before mid-Beethoven, they only had a 5-octave range anyhow, so composers faced the same limitations as players. Who knows what they would've written had they the range to do so? You can even see in some early Beethoven where he was struggling to fit certain motifs within the range of the smaller pianos that existed at the time.
– Darrel Hoffman
Mar 20 at 15:10
Personally, I'd ask the opposite question - why did everybody else stop at 88? I mean, I very rarely see any music which uses the top or bottom octave on a standard 88, but that's no reason to not give people the option. Also, if you're looking at any music, say, before mid-Beethoven, they only had a 5-octave range anyhow, so composers faced the same limitations as players. Who knows what they would've written had they the range to do so? You can even see in some early Beethoven where he was struggling to fit certain motifs within the range of the smaller pianos that existed at the time.
– Darrel Hoffman
Mar 20 at 15:10
2
2
@DarrelHoffman - I've seen the bottom octave of the piano used often enough in classical music. In several of those cases, I've even seen those notes notated with ledger lines but no ottava lines.
– Dekkadeci
Mar 20 at 15:31
@DarrelHoffman - I've seen the bottom octave of the piano used often enough in classical music. In several of those cases, I've even seen those notes notated with ledger lines but no ottava lines.
– Dekkadeci
Mar 20 at 15:31
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
31
These extended Bösendorfer ranges go back to Busoni's day. He wanted to match the range of pipe organs, as he was making transcriptions of J. S. Bach's organ works at the time.
edited Mar 20 at 2:52
Russell Borogove
1336
answered Mar 19 at 23:38
repletereplete
3,397722
5
@CarlWitthoft It only makes sense that they continue to make them because people buy them.
– Mohair
Mar 20 at 15:30
1
And then somebody built an organ with a 64' stop...
– Hobbes
Mar 20 at 17:48
add a comment |
34
replete's answer is correct that the original reason was to have a bigger range, as needed for some organ music. However, I don't think that's the reason those Imperial models are so sought-for over all these years – actually playing the lowest notest is scarcely musically useful.
The reason why people want Bösendorfer Imperial is that they sound awesome, even when the low strings aren't played. This probably has two main reasons:
- The big sound frame is better at transmitting all frequencies, in particular those on the low end of the regular range. These strings aren't already at the very limit of what the resonator can do, like they are on many other pianos, but still in the range of what it can comfortably do, so thundering octaves actually thunder and don't just “clank”.
- The low strings give a denser sympathetic-resonance spectrum, when the pedal is pushed. As a result, a Bösendorfer has a richer sound even in high, soft, legato passages.
answered Mar 20 at 5:58
leftaroundaboutleftaroundabout
20.4k3690
12
Plus to a pianist, a Bosendorfer is like a 2-ton pickup to a Texan :-)
– Carl Witthoft
Mar 20 at 15:00
add a comment |
8
Yep. There's of course another reason than cannot be underestimated: bling.
answered Mar 20 at 9:34
Scott WallaceScott Wallace
4,4711017
5
Hey, I live in Bösendorfer's home town. You can't tell me that they don't sell their image.
– Scott Wallace
Mar 20 at 11:43
I don't doubt that they promote their own image, but on the other hand, have you ever tried playing one?
– David K
2 days ago
@DavidK - can't say I have. I'm sure they sound great. But honestly- how often do we need these notes?
– Scott Wallace
2 days ago
I believe the one I tried had just the usual 88 notes. But they all sounded great from one end of the keyboard to the other. That makes an astoundingly good-sounding piano. Also an astoundingly high price.
– David K
2 days ago
Oh, I thought you meant one with extended bass. I've played the normal 88 keyed ones. Yes, they are very nice modern pianos, and beautifully made too.
– Scott Wallace
2 days ago
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "240"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
draft saved
draft discarded
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmusic.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f81677%2fwhy-does-a-97-92-key-piano-exist-by-b%25c3%25b6sendorfer%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
31
These extended Bösendorfer ranges go back to Busoni's day. He wanted to match the range of pipe organs, as he was making transcriptions of J. S. Bach's organ works at the time.
edited Mar 20 at 2:52
Russell Borogove
1336
answered Mar 19 at 23:38
repletereplete
3,397722
5
@CarlWitthoft It only makes sense that they continue to make them because people buy them.
– Mohair
Mar 20 at 15:30
1
And then somebody built an organ with a 64' stop...
– Hobbes
Mar 20 at 17:48
add a comment |
31
These extended Bösendorfer ranges go back to Busoni's day. He wanted to match the range of pipe organs, as he was making transcriptions of J. S. Bach's organ works at the time.
edited Mar 20 at 2:52
Russell Borogove
1336
answered Mar 19 at 23:38
repletereplete
3,397722
5
@CarlWitthoft It only makes sense that they continue to make them because people buy them.
– Mohair
Mar 20 at 15:30
1
And then somebody built an organ with a 64' stop...
– Hobbes
Mar 20 at 17:48
add a comment |
31
31
31
These extended Bösendorfer ranges go back to Busoni's day. He wanted to match the range of pipe organs, as he was making transcriptions of J. S. Bach's organ works at the time.
edited Mar 20 at 2:52
Russell Borogove
1336
answered Mar 19 at 23:38
repletereplete
3,397722
These extended Bösendorfer ranges go back to Busoni's day. He wanted to match the range of pipe organs, as he was making transcriptions of J. S. Bach's organ works at the time.
edited Mar 20 at 2:52
Russell Borogove
1336
answered Mar 19 at 23:38
repletereplete
3,397722
edited Mar 20 at 2:52
Russell Borogove
1336
edited Mar 20 at 2:52
Russell Borogove
1336
edited Mar 20 at 2:52
Russell Borogove
1336
1336
answered Mar 19 at 23:38
repletereplete
3,397722
answered Mar 19 at 23:38
repletereplete
3,397722
answered Mar 19 at 23:38
repletereplete
3,397722
3,397722
5
@CarlWitthoft It only makes sense that they continue to make them because people buy them.
– Mohair
Mar 20 at 15:30
1
And then somebody built an organ with a 64' stop...
– Hobbes
Mar 20 at 17:48
add a comment |
5
@CarlWitthoft It only makes sense that they continue to make them because people buy them.
– Mohair
Mar 20 at 15:30
1
And then somebody built an organ with a 64' stop...
– Hobbes
Mar 20 at 17:48
5
5
@CarlWitthoft It only makes sense that they continue to make them because people buy them.
– Mohair
Mar 20 at 15:30
@CarlWitthoft It only makes sense that they continue to make them because people buy them.
– Mohair
Mar 20 at 15:30
1
1
And then somebody built an organ with a 64' stop...
– Hobbes
Mar 20 at 17:48
And then somebody built an organ with a 64' stop...
– Hobbes
Mar 20 at 17:48
add a comment |
34
replete's answer is correct that the original reason was to have a bigger range, as needed for some organ music. However, I don't think that's the reason those Imperial models are so sought-for over all these years – actually playing the lowest notest is scarcely musically useful.
The reason why people want Bösendorfer Imperial is that they sound awesome, even when the low strings aren't played. This probably has two main reasons:
- The big sound frame is better at transmitting all frequencies, in particular those on the low end of the regular range. These strings aren't already at the very limit of what the resonator can do, like they are on many other pianos, but still in the range of what it can comfortably do, so thundering octaves actually thunder and don't just “clank”.
- The low strings give a denser sympathetic-resonance spectrum, when the pedal is pushed. As a result, a Bösendorfer has a richer sound even in high, soft, legato passages.
answered Mar 20 at 5:58
leftaroundaboutleftaroundabout
20.4k3690
12
Plus to a pianist, a Bosendorfer is like a 2-ton pickup to a Texan :-)
– Carl Witthoft
Mar 20 at 15:00
add a comment |
34
replete's answer is correct that the original reason was to have a bigger range, as needed for some organ music. However, I don't think that's the reason those Imperial models are so sought-for over all these years – actually playing the lowest notest is scarcely musically useful.
The reason why people want Bösendorfer Imperial is that they sound awesome, even when the low strings aren't played. This probably has two main reasons:
- The big sound frame is better at transmitting all frequencies, in particular those on the low end of the regular range. These strings aren't already at the very limit of what the resonator can do, like they are on many other pianos, but still in the range of what it can comfortably do, so thundering octaves actually thunder and don't just “clank”.
- The low strings give a denser sympathetic-resonance spectrum, when the pedal is pushed. As a result, a Bösendorfer has a richer sound even in high, soft, legato passages.
answered Mar 20 at 5:58
leftaroundaboutleftaroundabout
20.4k3690
12
Plus to a pianist, a Bosendorfer is like a 2-ton pickup to a Texan :-)
– Carl Witthoft
Mar 20 at 15:00
add a comment |
34
34
34
replete's answer is correct that the original reason was to have a bigger range, as needed for some organ music. However, I don't think that's the reason those Imperial models are so sought-for over all these years – actually playing the lowest notest is scarcely musically useful.
The reason why people want Bösendorfer Imperial is that they sound awesome, even when the low strings aren't played. This probably has two main reasons:
- The big sound frame is better at transmitting all frequencies, in particular those on the low end of the regular range. These strings aren't already at the very limit of what the resonator can do, like they are on many other pianos, but still in the range of what it can comfortably do, so thundering octaves actually thunder and don't just “clank”.
- The low strings give a denser sympathetic-resonance spectrum, when the pedal is pushed. As a result, a Bösendorfer has a richer sound even in high, soft, legato passages.
answered Mar 20 at 5:58
leftaroundaboutleftaroundabout
20.4k3690
replete's answer is correct that the original reason was to have a bigger range, as needed for some organ music. However, I don't think that's the reason those Imperial models are so sought-for over all these years – actually playing the lowest notest is scarcely musically useful.
The reason why people want Bösendorfer Imperial is that they sound awesome, even when the low strings aren't played. This probably has two main reasons:
- The big sound frame is better at transmitting all frequencies, in particular those on the low end of the regular range. These strings aren't already at the very limit of what the resonator can do, like they are on many other pianos, but still in the range of what it can comfortably do, so thundering octaves actually thunder and don't just “clank”.
- The low strings give a denser sympathetic-resonance spectrum, when the pedal is pushed. As a result, a Bösendorfer has a richer sound even in high, soft, legato passages.
answered Mar 20 at 5:58
leftaroundaboutleftaroundabout
20.4k3690
answered Mar 20 at 5:58
leftaroundaboutleftaroundabout
20.4k3690
answered Mar 20 at 5:58
leftaroundaboutleftaroundabout
20.4k3690
answered Mar 20 at 5:58
leftaroundaboutleftaroundabout
20.4k3690
20.4k3690
12
Plus to a pianist, a Bosendorfer is like a 2-ton pickup to a Texan :-)
– Carl Witthoft
Mar 20 at 15:00
add a comment |
12
Plus to a pianist, a Bosendorfer is like a 2-ton pickup to a Texan :-)
– Carl Witthoft
Mar 20 at 15:00
12
12
Plus to a pianist, a Bosendorfer is like a 2-ton pickup to a Texan :-)
– Carl Witthoft
Mar 20 at 15:00
Plus to a pianist, a Bosendorfer is like a 2-ton pickup to a Texan :-)
– Carl Witthoft
Mar 20 at 15:00
add a comment |
8
Yep. There's of course another reason than cannot be underestimated: bling.
answered Mar 20 at 9:34
Scott WallaceScott Wallace
4,4711017
5
Hey, I live in Bösendorfer's home town. You can't tell me that they don't sell their image.
– Scott Wallace
Mar 20 at 11:43
I don't doubt that they promote their own image, but on the other hand, have you ever tried playing one?
– David K
2 days ago
@DavidK - can't say I have. I'm sure they sound great. But honestly- how often do we need these notes?
– Scott Wallace
2 days ago
I believe the one I tried had just the usual 88 notes. But they all sounded great from one end of the keyboard to the other. That makes an astoundingly good-sounding piano. Also an astoundingly high price.
– David K
2 days ago
Oh, I thought you meant one with extended bass. I've played the normal 88 keyed ones. Yes, they are very nice modern pianos, and beautifully made too.
– Scott Wallace
2 days ago
add a comment |
8
Yep. There's of course another reason than cannot be underestimated: bling.
answered Mar 20 at 9:34
Scott WallaceScott Wallace
4,4711017
5
Hey, I live in Bösendorfer's home town. You can't tell me that they don't sell their image.
– Scott Wallace
Mar 20 at 11:43
I don't doubt that they promote their own image, but on the other hand, have you ever tried playing one?
– David K
2 days ago
@DavidK - can't say I have. I'm sure they sound great. But honestly- how often do we need these notes?
– Scott Wallace
2 days ago
I believe the one I tried had just the usual 88 notes. But they all sounded great from one end of the keyboard to the other. That makes an astoundingly good-sounding piano. Also an astoundingly high price.
– David K
2 days ago
Oh, I thought you meant one with extended bass. I've played the normal 88 keyed ones. Yes, they are very nice modern pianos, and beautifully made too.
– Scott Wallace
2 days ago
add a comment |
8
8
8
Yep. There's of course another reason than cannot be underestimated: bling.
answered Mar 20 at 9:34
Scott WallaceScott Wallace
4,4711017
Yep. There's of course another reason than cannot be underestimated: bling.
answered Mar 20 at 9:34
Scott WallaceScott Wallace
4,4711017
answered Mar 20 at 9:34
Scott WallaceScott Wallace
4,4711017
answered Mar 20 at 9:34
Scott WallaceScott Wallace
4,4711017
answered Mar 20 at 9:34
Scott WallaceScott Wallace
4,4711017
4,4711017
5
Hey, I live in Bösendorfer's home town. You can't tell me that they don't sell their image.
– Scott Wallace
Mar 20 at 11:43
I don't doubt that they promote their own image, but on the other hand, have you ever tried playing one?
– David K
2 days ago
@DavidK - can't say I have. I'm sure they sound great. But honestly- how often do we need these notes?
– Scott Wallace
2 days ago
I believe the one I tried had just the usual 88 notes. But they all sounded great from one end of the keyboard to the other. That makes an astoundingly good-sounding piano. Also an astoundingly high price.
– David K
2 days ago
Oh, I thought you meant one with extended bass. I've played the normal 88 keyed ones. Yes, they are very nice modern pianos, and beautifully made too.
– Scott Wallace
2 days ago
add a comment |
5
Hey, I live in Bösendorfer's home town. You can't tell me that they don't sell their image.
– Scott Wallace
Mar 20 at 11:43
I don't doubt that they promote their own image, but on the other hand, have you ever tried playing one?
– David K
2 days ago
@DavidK - can't say I have. I'm sure they sound great. But honestly- how often do we need these notes?
– Scott Wallace
2 days ago
I believe the one I tried had just the usual 88 notes. But they all sounded great from one end of the keyboard to the other. That makes an astoundingly good-sounding piano. Also an astoundingly high price.
– David K
2 days ago
Oh, I thought you meant one with extended bass. I've played the normal 88 keyed ones. Yes, they are very nice modern pianos, and beautifully made too.
– Scott Wallace
2 days ago
5
5
Hey, I live in Bösendorfer's home town. You can't tell me that they don't sell their image.
– Scott Wallace
Mar 20 at 11:43
Hey, I live in Bösendorfer's home town. You can't tell me that they don't sell their image.
– Scott Wallace
Mar 20 at 11:43
I don't doubt that they promote their own image, but on the other hand, have you ever tried playing one?
– David K
2 days ago
I don't doubt that they promote their own image, but on the other hand, have you ever tried playing one?
– David K
2 days ago
@DavidK - can't say I have. I'm sure they sound great. But honestly- how often do we need these notes?
– Scott Wallace
2 days ago
@DavidK - can't say I have. I'm sure they sound great. But honestly- how often do we need these notes?
– Scott Wallace
2 days ago
I believe the one I tried had just the usual 88 notes. But they all sounded great from one end of the keyboard to the other. That makes an astoundingly good-sounding piano. Also an astoundingly high price.
– David K
2 days ago
I believe the one I tried had just the usual 88 notes. But they all sounded great from one end of the keyboard to the other. That makes an astoundingly good-sounding piano. Also an astoundingly high price.
– David K
2 days ago
Oh, I thought you meant one with extended bass. I've played the normal 88 keyed ones. Yes, they are very nice modern pianos, and beautifully made too.
– Scott Wallace
2 days ago
Oh, I thought you meant one with extended bass. I've played the normal 88 keyed ones. Yes, they are very nice modern pianos, and beautifully made too.
– Scott Wallace
2 days ago
add a comment |
draft saved
draft discarded
Thanks for contributing an answer to Music: Practice & Theory Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
draft saved
draft discarded
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmusic.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f81677%2fwhy-does-a-97-92-key-piano-exist-by-b%25c3%25b6sendorfer%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
6
Personally, I'd ask the opposite question - why did everybody else stop at 88? I mean, I very rarely see any music which uses the top or bottom octave on a standard 88, but that's no reason to not give people the option. Also, if you're looking at any music, say, before mid-Beethoven, they only had a 5-octave range anyhow, so composers faced the same limitations as players. Who knows what they would've written had they the range to do so? You can even see in some early Beethoven where he was struggling to fit certain motifs within the range of the smaller pianos that existed at the time.
– Darrel Hoffman
Mar 20 at 15:10
2
@DarrelHoffman - I've seen the bottom octave of the piano used often enough in classical music. In several of those cases, I've even seen those notes notated with ledger lines but no ottava lines.
– Dekkadeci
Mar 20 at 15:31