Emerson & the "Flying Grand Piano"

[keybdwiz]

Just about everyone is familiar with Keith's rotating grand piano performance at the California Jam... but, I have a quick question about it, please.

I guess it kinda involves the law of physics, and if a piano could actually be played "upside-down." Wouldn't the hammers that strike the strings inside the grand piano fail to operate, if they were turned upside-down.

Seems like gravity would be pulling them away from the piano strings.... Hmmmm

I wonder... could be that this is a "fake grand piano" & Keith might be going through the motions of playing, while he rotates over and over again. The piano music could be pre-recorded, and Keith could have been trying to get his movement in-sync with the recorded performance. Watch the video and see what you think.

Mark, being a keyboard player... you might know the answer to this question. Would it be physically possible to play a piano upside-down?

A superb stunt and an excellent crowd pleaser, judging from the audible response.

What do ya' think... is it just a staged stunt... or is it 100% real?

Either way... it is Awesome !!! ;D

[markone]

So... Sad person that I am... I went in hunt of the answer from a technical point of view.

Take a look at this vid: www.revver.com/video/492422/music-instruments-the-piano-key-mechanism/

and this rather good interactive animation:

www.piano.christophersmit.com/popUpMotion.html

Now the question is: Upside-down does the hammer have anything to stop it falling onto the string. And my engineers eye is telling me 'NO'. So when the piano is inverted all the hammers LOOK like they would fall onto the strings.

Unless of course you actually did something like put rubber bands around them to pull them back when inverted. (I wouldn't put it past Keith to get someone to do that either)

For me the jury's out on this. A standard grand wouldn't work. But you could modify one to do it I reckon.

[keybdwiz]

Wow Mark...

You really did a fantastic job finding those online videos to demonstrate exactly what I was trying to ask about. Great work.

Yes.. I agree with you about the rubber band thing. There is a chance that it could conceivably work, if it were rigged properly.

As you said... Keith Emerson, being as innovative as he is, could have possibly conditioned the grand piano, and had it where it could play upside-down.

He really is a musical genius ... ;D

[donl]

back in the 70's i knew a kid who said his father designed the flying piano and that keith came to his house to discuss the piano with his father. being kids no one believed him.then i read in pictures of an exhibitionist keith talking about the flying piano and mentions the kids father and coming to his home so my apologies to the kid who no one believed.

[bad]

The explanation is very simple and just like you keybdwiz suggested in the first message. It has been known for years to be a clever fake up with prerecorded music :-)

Best
Bjorn-Are

[markone]

Aug 26, 2008 18:20:51 GMT 1 bad said:

The explanation is very simple and just like you keybdwiz suggested in the first message. It has been known for years to be a clever fake up with prerecorded music :-)

Best
Bjorn-Are

I don't actually remember reading that anywhere, and Keith doesn't make mention of it in his book.

Not wishing to come off as a git or anything, but, known for years by whom?

Enquiring minds... Need to know

Cheers

M.

[l100]

I agree with keybdwiz....it was awesome (a great spectacle at least).

Just to prove the point, here we are 30 odd years later still talking about it!