August Forster Piano
A History as Rich as the Sound
It's rather uncommon to find a quality product without an accompanying
rich history - a history that deepens the way we appreciate the things
we use. The following is a great example of how history helps shape our
admiration for the August Forster Piano. As you'll see, certain elements
of the Forster company development make us focus our attention on the
'why' as we learn about the 'when,' 'where,' and 'how.' Friedrich
August FörsterThe August Forster Piano is the masterwork of
Friedrich August Förster, a German piano-maker who started his career as
a cabinetmaker in 1849. As an Oberseifersdorf native, August repaired
musical instruments when he wasn't building cabinets -- giving great
influence to the skills that he would eventually perfect through
studying the art of piano-making in Löbau. Five years later, August
officially earned his title as a piano-maker and then returned home.
Reaching Markets Beyond RangeIn 1859, August built his first piano
and then later established a piano-making factory which still exists
even to this day. What's particularly amazing about his accomplishments
is that they were made when the year's 1886 import restrictions had a
direct impact on sales. Maneuvering through different distribution
channels allowed August to reach markets that would have otherwise been
unreachable.Czech NationalizationHe died in 1897 but his son
Caesar continued the legacy for fine pianos with a factory in Bohemia
and almost half a century later, the Bohemian factory was nationalized
by the Czech government. As a result, all August Foerster pianos were
manufactured through the Czech Petroff factory. Unfortunately, their
quality didn't come anywhere near to the quality of the original
Loebau-made August Forster Pianos.
A generation later, Caesar's
own sons re-took control over the factory and restored the quality that
was lost under the state's control. These two men, Gerhard and Manfred,
were responsible for affecting the quarter-tone grand piano and
electrochord designs of the 1920s and 1930s. But from 1966 to 1976, the
company's ownership continued to change after Gerhard's and Manfred's
death, and the Foerster name, as a brand name, continued along an
unstable path as well.
A Return To Private
OwnershipNone of the multiple exchanges of ownership seemed to
affect the piano's ability to win International awards and medals, but
once the German Democratic Republic collapsed, the company returned to
private ownership. Today, we have the results of a company that is once
again owned by Forster family members and that has returned to its
Loebau tradition. That is of course, a tradition of single strung
strings and soft sounds.
Throughout the history of pianists,
this is a tradition favored by musicians such as Anton Kuerti, Piccini,
Richard Straus, Robert Fischer, and Sergei Prokofiev. And it's a
tradition that has even made an entrance into the moving picture
industry as well. The piano in "The Pianist" is an August Forster Piano!
The trials and tribulations of the Forster Company are certainly
milestones of its endurance. And we can certainly look forward to the
wonderful events that its future will bring.
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