Gaveau
Encyclopedia
Gaveau of Paris was a French
piano
manufacturer. The company was established by Joseph Gabriel Gaveau in 1847 in Paris
and used to be one of the three largest piano makers in France (after Érard
and Pleyel
). A large factory was located at Fontenay-sous-Bois
.
Some Gaveau pianos were constructed with art cabinets. Many pianos have been equipped with pneumatic systems (Odeola, Ampico and Welte
).
In 1960, Gaveau merged with Érard. From 1971 to 1994 Gaveau pianos were made by Pianoforte manufacturing company Wilhelm Schimmel
. The brand is currently owned by Manufacture Française de Pianos, the same company that owns the Pleyel and Erard brands. Today, Manufacture Française de Pianos manufactures certain models under the Gaveau name.
Gabriel Gaveau was established in 1911. Gabriel Gaveau made some pianos with pedal or Duo-Art systems, and was located in 1919, 55-57 Av. Malakoff, 75016 (This part is now Av. Raymond Poincaré, near the Trocadéro
). This plant was requisitioned by the Germans in 1939.
Also in 1911, Augustin Gaveau created his own piano company with his own style of upright pianos.
In his autobiography "My Young Years", Artur Rubinstein recounts how he was contracted to play Gaveau pianos in concert. He writes of their "Stiff unresponsive action" and "Coldness of tone".
in 1905-1906. The concert hall, located at 45, rue la Boétie in the 8th arrondissement, is active with classical and jazz music. The Salle Rostropovitch is a smaller hall or reception room that can accommodate about 250 people seated or 800 standing.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
manufacturer. The company was established by Joseph Gabriel Gaveau in 1847 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and used to be one of the three largest piano makers in France (after Érard
Sébastien Érard
Sébastien Érard , born Sébastien Erhard, was a French instrument maker of German origin who specialised in the production of pianos and harps, developing the capacities of both instruments and pioneering the modern piano....
and Pleyel
Pleyel et Cie
Pleyel et Cie is a French piano manufacturing firm founded by the composer Ignace Pleyel in 1807. In 1815, he was joined by his son, Camille, as a business partner. The firm provided pianos to Frédéric Chopin, and also ran a concert hall, the Salle Pleyel, where Chopin performed his first — and...
). A large factory was located at Fontenay-sous-Bois
Fontenay-sous-Bois
Fontenay-sous-Bois is a commune in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-Name:The name Fontenay was recorded in the Middle Ages as Fontanetum, meaning "the springs", from Medieval Latin fontana .The commune was known alternatively as Fontenay-les-Bois ,...
.
Some Gaveau pianos were constructed with art cabinets. Many pianos have been equipped with pneumatic systems (Odeola, Ampico and Welte
Welte-Mignon
M. Welte & Sons, Freiburg and New York was a manufacturer of orchestrions, organs and reproducing pianos, established in Vöhrenbach by Michael Welte in 1832.-Overview:...
).
In 1960, Gaveau merged with Érard. From 1971 to 1994 Gaveau pianos were made by Pianoforte manufacturing company Wilhelm Schimmel
Wilhelm Schimmel
Schimmel is a German piano maker. The company was founded in 1885 in Leipzig by Wilhelm Schimmel. This company is especially popular for its high quality concert grand pianos. In August 2009, the biggest piano maker in Germany became insolvent and was protected from its creditors in a manner...
. The brand is currently owned by Manufacture Française de Pianos, the same company that owns the Pleyel and Erard brands. Today, Manufacture Française de Pianos manufactures certain models under the Gaveau name.
Family competition
Joseph Gabriel Gaveau had six children, and Étienne Gaveau received competition from his brothers.Gabriel Gaveau was established in 1911. Gabriel Gaveau made some pianos with pedal or Duo-Art systems, and was located in 1919, 55-57 Av. Malakoff, 75016 (This part is now Av. Raymond Poincaré, near the Trocadéro
Trocadéro
The Trocadéro, , site of the Palais de Chaillot, , is an area of Paris, France, in the 16th arrondissement, across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower. The hill of the Trocadéro is the hill of Chaillot, a former village.- Origin of the name :...
). This plant was requisitioned by the Germans in 1939.
Also in 1911, Augustin Gaveau created his own piano company with his own style of upright pianos.
In his autobiography "My Young Years", Artur Rubinstein recounts how he was contracted to play Gaveau pianos in concert. He writes of their "Stiff unresponsive action" and "Coldness of tone".
Salle Gaveau
A large building, including the manufacturer's headquarters and a 1020-seat concert hall named Salle Gaveau, was built for Gaveau by the architect Jacques HermantJacques Hermant
Jacques-Rene Hermant was a French architect, one of the most renowned architects of fin-de-siècle Paris....
in 1905-1906. The concert hall, located at 45, rue la Boétie in the 8th arrondissement, is active with classical and jazz music. The Salle Rostropovitch is a smaller hall or reception room that can accommodate about 250 people seated or 800 standing.