Art of the Toy Piano

Margaret Leng Tan has been playing her version of what a piano "Could" or "Should" sound like for years. In the past she mastered the prepared piano, which is a piano with cork or metal parts inbetween the hammer and strings, with the CD "Sonic Encounters". Later with piano tape loops, which is recorded piano notes on repeating tape, with the CD "Litania". This is her newest musical addition, & what an addition it is: "The Art of the Toy Piano". Margaret Leng Tan plays every style from Classical music (Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata & Erik Satie's Gymnopédie No. 3) to Rock (Beatles's Eleanor Rigby) with a semi-off tune, percussion like toy piano which adds an unique edge to some tunes you may know or never heard before. Sometimes other instruments are added, including a normal piano, which softens or blends the toy piano's hard edged sound. Try the "Listen to Samples", specially the 1st piece "Mirabella (A Tarantella)" for some "Real" art.

I was looking for the work of Conlon Nancarrow on the Internet and found a performance of one of his studies played by Margaret Leng Tan on two toy pianos. So I looked her up and bought this CD of her work on the toy piano. That was so charming that I bought a Schoenhut 379M for myself and started taking piano lessons so I can play it properly. I am not ready to perform yet (ha!), but it is fun to play with it. Mine had the highest Bb so flat it was the same pitch as the A below it. So I have started to tune it up to pitch. I am half way there. A scary process, because it is easy to sharpen a note, but you cannot go back very well.It is a shame that many toy pianos are pretty junky, but the Schoenhut ones, at least their better ones, seem quite good indeed, and are beautiful to look at besides. Mine has 37 notes and the black keys work.

This might seem like a mere gimmick, something to be heard once & then discarded ... but that's not the case. Margaret Leng Tan approaches the toy piano as an instrument, and she gives us some remarkable music. Yes, there's certainly a sense of fun & play at work here! But it's clearly from the actual pleasure of the playing, rather than an undercurrent of "Aren't I just so clever & hip!" You'll smile while listening, all right, but it'll be from sheer delight. The sooner this unexpected little gem is brought back into print, the better -- happily recommended!

It's a great pity that this album has gone out of print, as Margaret Leng Tang shows here that the toy piano can be more than just a novelty. She demonstrates that it has a unique voice particularly suited to many melodies- especially when played with great sensitivity and touch. Her Satie seesm especially suited to the instrument. If this intrigues you, try to hunt down a copy of this album.

The sharp sound with minimal sustain is unlike anything else; hard, clear, and perfectly resolved in Tan's superb performance. The CD contains a good mix of old standards ("Moonlight Sonata," Satie's "Gymnopedie" -- although thankfully not the ubiquitous 1st) and newer pieces written for toy piano. The track listing is confusing but correct; the odd font used for the track numbers may be matched with the corresponding title by following the thin red line at the base of each number.

I bought this cd just because it sounded fun - and it really is. I wasn't even sure what a toy piano was... but now I want one!!! It has such a great little innocent sound, and Margaret really figured out how to make the instrument speak. If anyone has a toy piano to sell, email me at [email protected]... I've taken piano for a long time, and would love to play around with one. Anyway, buy the CD and enjoy this fresh little taste of something different!!!

There were a few duds, but most of the tracks were enchanting... or funny... or hypnotic... or sweet and wistful. A good introduction to some contemporary composers and the Bang On A Can festival, too. I listened to this album straight through and I hardly ever do that. On my copy, at least, the tracks were off between the disc and the label.