Piano Forte: College of Saint Mary to host unique piano exhibit featuring instruments dating back to 16th century
OMAHA, Neb. – College of Saint Mary (CSM) is hosting a unique exhibit called “Piano Forte: Musical Oddities in Time” in November and December. The exhibit will showcase a rare collection of pianos and piano-like instruments ranging from the first pianofortes of the 16th century to the modern-day piano and explore their design, engineering and history.
“We’re excited to bring such a remarkable and historic exhibit to this campus,” said Lizzy Gilbert, director of major gifts at CSM. “It’s an opportunity that doesn’t come around often, so I’d encourage anyone who has an appreciation for the arts to attend the opening or take a personal tour.”
The collection is curated by Steve Misener, a piano collector, researcher and technician from Stockholm, S.D. He will be present for the opening reception and will also give scheduled tours of the exhibit. Misener’s collection includes more than 130 pianos, organs and other related instruments and musical items. For this exhibit, he will be bringing 25 instruments that are more unusual and characterized as “musical oddities”.
Misener’s story began at age 10 when he became interested in music, history and mechanics and began taking piano lessons. In high school he worked on pianos for shop class, and he studied piano tuning and repair in college. After completing two apprenticeships, Misener opened his own business in 1980. His focus on piano restoration enabled him to begin seeking out and accumulating old and unusual pianos.
Misener’s collection is quite extensive and complete in scope. The oldest piece in the collection is a cabinet pipe organ from the late 1500s. About 35 other of Misener’s pianos were built before 1860. Many of the pianos and organs were made in the United States; others were built in Germany, England, France, Canada, and other European countries.
While the exhibit obviously appeals to music lovers, viewers with a variety of interests will also find it fascinating because of the history, engineering and design components of the pianos. Several of the instruments are still in working condition, and viewers are invited to play them during the tours and/or listen to Misener play them. Misener also includes stories about the music industry of the time, relevant composers and details of the instruments’ previous owners during the tours.
“One of the things that stands out as far as pianos are concerned is that they all have a story,” said Misener.
The “Piano Forte: Musical Oddities in Time” exhibit runs from November 7 through December 20. The opening reception is Thursday, November 7, from 5-7 p.m. in the Hillmer Art Gallery at College of Saint Mary. The opening reception and tours are free and open to the public. To schedule a tour and find out more details about the exhibit, go to www.csm.edu/pianoforte. For more information about Misener’s collection, visit www.stevemisenerpiano.com.
This exhibit is made possible, in part, with the support of Teri and Ron Quinn.
