Hood/Acker Fortepiano after Nannette Streicher, 1816

I had the pleasure and duty to take on the completion of Margaret Hood’s unfinished last piano.  After all, it is a design by a woman, Nannette Streicher, daughter of the famous piano Viennese maker Andreas Stein, the replica was begun by a woman, so, as I told Margaret’s husband after her too early passing, a woman needs to finish it.  I had it playing for its debut at the 2019 Boston Early Music Festival, but have continued to refine it’s workings, and plan to restring it this coming summer with Stephen Birkett’s Historic Music Wire and releather it with historically made leather from Jason Leininger.  then look out!  I’m practicing my Schubert!