1828 was an important year in the history of piano making in
central Europe. Ignaz Bosendorfer, the most famous of all Austrian piano builders,
took control of the Joseph Brodmann piano workshops which was then considered to
be the most innovative and modern piano factory in Europe and therefore the
world.
Joseph Brodmann was born in 1763 in Deuna/Eichsfeld (today Germany,
Thuringen). As a young man, he came to Vienna and became the apprentice of the
well known piano builder Frederick Hoffman. By this time, Vienna had already
been established as the centre of the musical world influenced by the music of
Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert who all lived during his lifetime. Joseph
Brodmann was one of the first and best known piano designers and craftsman of
his time. In 1800, in the Lexicon of Musicians he was listed as "Joseph Brodmann
- instrument maker, excelled in constructing horizontal fortepianos of solid
finish". In 1805 he was registered in the Court and State record
department as an Organ and Piano maker.
His contribution to and
inventions for piano design and piano making laid the groundwork for his most
talented apprentice, Ignaz Bosendorfer whose pianos are still considered today
by many as the finest pianos in the world.Joseph Brodmann was best known for his
development work on piano soundboards. He is credited with greatly improving the
necessary stiffness of the soundboard, so needed to withstand the increased
string tensions demanded by the pianists of the day and therefore preventing the
soundboard from tearing or splitting.
World famous musicians, composers and
conductors, such as Carl Maria Friedrich Ernest von Weber purchased and endorsed
Brodmann's pianos. In a letter to his brother Weber euphorically praised his new
Brodmann piano indicating it was the best piano he had ever played.
Carl
Maria von Weber was not only a composer, but also a conductor and an
accomplished pianist. His piano compositions showed a fertile imagination and a
brilliant technical command of the piano. Weber com-posed a number of well known
compositions on his instrument, amongst which are the operas Euryanthe and
Oberon, several large choral works, 2 symphonies, 2 piano concertos and 4
sonatas as well as numerous songs.
Brodmann's innovations in cabinet design
made his instruments sought after not only by musicians, but also Vienna's high
society at the time. Examples of Brodmann pianos are still in working order in
the piano collections of the Vienna Arts and Berlin Museums today. One of these
pianos built in 1815, has a completely hand carved case with bronze
fittings.
Joseph Brodmann's original address in Vienna was at no 43 Glacis,
Josefstadt (8th District), later 226 Johannes Street, which is called today
Lenau Street 10, where he also had his workshops.
Ignaz Bosendorfer studied
in the workshop of Joseph Brodmann from the age of 19 years, where he finished
his apprenticeship. A great master found an ingenious pupil who took everything
Joseph Brodmann had taught him and began to produce from 1828, when he took over
Joseph Brodmann's work-shops the world famous Bosendorfer Pianos. There are
still early examples of Bosendorfer pianos today which state on the nameboard
"Ignaz Bosendorfer pupil of Joseph Brodmann" and "Ignaz Bosendorfer made in the
workshops of Joseph Brodmann". It would be true to assert that even today in
every Bosendorfer piano, there is a little part of Joseph Brodmann's designs and
teachings
Brodmann today
Today Brodmann's world headquarters is still located in
Vienna, Austria, not far from the original factory and only five minutes away
from the famous opera house and the historic old town. The city, with its
musical history as well as the heritage of Joseph Brodmann and his pupil Ignaz
Bosendorfer, continue to influence the way Brodmann pianos are built to this
day. The Joseph Brodmann Piano Group is a world wide company with corporate
locations in Vienna, London, Hong Kong and USA. Brodmann has appointed select
dealers and technicians worldwide to provide the ultimate in service and
assistance to our customers. Under the leadership of Christian Hoferl, a former
long time Director of Bosendorfer and Colin Taylor, a former Sales Manager at
Bosendorfer and a concert technician, the Brodmann company is comprised of a
highly experience team whose aims are to produce the highest quality
pianos
