How much total weight does it take to play a song on the piano?

Pianist Moissaye Boguslawski (popularly known as 'Bogie') calculated in 1927 that "in the four minutes it took him to play Rubenstein's 'Staccato Etude' he exerted force of 14,700 pounds." Apparently he then used this bit of esoterica to impress the ladies.

The wikipedia entry on Boguslawski notes, "Boguslawski was known for skillfully attracting media attention. A 1936 piece in TIME magazine said of him, 'When straight news about himself is scarce, 'Bogie' is likely to come forth with such a project as his proposal to promote world peace through voice culture, since animosity arises when unpleasant tones are heard.'"

Muncie Evening Press - Aug 11, 1927

Ithaca Journal - Nov 23, 1926

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Posted By: Alex - Wed Nov 27, 2019
Category: Music | 1920s

Comments

I'd like to see him exert all that force instantaneously on a piano. The editor needs to go back to school for a physics course.

Posted by KDP on 11/28/19 at 10:57 AM

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