Historic Steinway piano brought back to life for Holy Week recital

Mar. 25—WATERTOWN — A 1907 Steinway piano is back at home inside the First Presbyterian Church after spending the last year in Iowa for a $70,000 restoration, funded by the congregation.

The Rev. Andrew P. Long, the church's pastor, will be showcasing the instrument's capabilities at 7 p.m. on Friday when he plays it during a candlelight recital of "The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross."

Long studied music in college and graduated from Towson University and Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore in 2007. He then spent years playing the piano and organ at churches before he was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in 2012.

He became the pastor of the church in Watertown in September 2021.

During his years as a full-time musician, Long was able to familiarize himself with how a proper piano should play.

"Steinways are the gold standard, as far as American piano building goes. Musicians play Steinways because of the sound they produce," Long said.

That sound will cost the buyer of a new handmade Steinway anywhere from $120,000 to $250,000. This makes the church's $70,000 restoration a bargain.

"This was a good investment in basically getting a new instrument for about half the price," Long said.

All the mechanical parts of the piano, such as the strings, action, hammers and soundboard have been replaced. The outside case and the harp are original but refinished. The ivory keys were left untouched.

The restoration took about 100 hours to complete.

The piano has been with the church since the 1920s, when it was believed that a member donated it. According to Long, Steinways of that vintage are of the highest quality, because of their design and the materials used.

"The materials that were available were the best. A lot of pianos, because they are so big, are veneered — so its ten, twenty layers of really thin wood, pressed together and then bent into the shape of the piano," he explained. "This piano is solid wood all the way around, because there were trees that were available that were that big. It makes a really big difference in the sound."

Long said that the church wants to share that sound with the people of Watertown and other musicians.

"All the church musicians play it. Any outside group that comes here that has a music presentation, they use it as well. It is really a community instrument. We make sure people know how to use it properly, but it is available to anybody," he said.

Many will be able to hear that distinct sound during Friday's recital. It will include eight short piano sonatas that reflect on the words that Jesus said on the cross as he died. In between the sonatas, there will be readings by three narrators: Michele Bariteau, Angela Elmer and Bob Kimball.

Long believes that art is a way to understand religious and historic events, such as the crucifixion.

"Whether artists or musicians were religious or not, the event of the crucifixion has been one of the most highly reflected upon pieces of history, ever. From visual art to poetry and prose, and especially to music. So, this is just one of millions of ways that people have tried to understand that mystery," he said.

The whole experience will be aimed toward the senses, both visually and auditorily.

"The music itself, is highly emotional, but also really touching," Long said. "I hope people will join us because I think it will be great music, but also to sit in a beautiful space, too."

Following the recital there will be a reception with light refreshments.