As a Christmas gift to all Pianoteq customers, MODARTT has announced the release of its latest instrument add-on: a virtual copy of a grand piano Pleyel model F from 1926 (size 1.64 m) provided by Christophe Nebout, specialist in restoration of pianos from the early XXth Century.

Frédéric Chopin, who preferred to compose and perform on Pleyel pianos, had a close friendship with the piano manufacturer Camille Pleyel (son of the founder Ignaz Pleyel) who was also a piano virtuoso. Pleyel pianos were later also used by other major composers such as Debussy, Ravel and Stravinsky, and by the legendary Chopin interpreter Alfred Cortot.

Pleyel brought major innovations such as the metal frame, the popular upright piano, or the more exotic 'Duo-Clave' double piano. The Pleyel sound can be described as round, warm and sensual. Chopin said "when I feel in good form and strong enough to find my own individual sound, then I need a Pleyel piano".

The Pleyel add-on was created in the frame of the cultural project KIViR (Keyboard Instrument Virtual Restoration) which involves partners such as museums, piano restorers and individuals. It enriches the Pianoteq collection of historical instruments including a Kovács cimbalom, Grimaldi and Blanchet harpsichords, Graf, Schantz, Schmidt, Schöffstoss and Walter pianoforte, Bechstein and Erard early grand pianos, and a Yamaha CP-80 electro-acoustic piano. On a long term basis, MODARTT is building a collection of virtual copies of historical instruments from all parts of the world serving as maintainable testimony of the past. Propositions for creating copies of instruments are welcome.

Listen & download

Listen to audio demos at www.pianoteq.com. The Pleyel add-on requires the recent update 3.6.5 of Pianoteq and it is freely available to all Pianoteq customers. It is included in the latest version of the KIViR add-on collection that can be downloaded from the Pianoteq user area.