"Without music", someone once said, "life is a journey through a desert". Since our founder -while an apprentice in Vienna- helped built instruments for Ludwig van Beethoven and other famous artists during the years 1813-1819 six generations of the Sauter family have sought to continue this legacy. We hope as you read over the information contained on this homepage that you will see not only the beauty and perfection of a Sauter piano but also be able to hear the joy and music that can be created with it. Piano music is an explosive expression of humanity. It connects everyone, no matter where we are from. After all, helping create that connection is why we build pianos.
Just the other day I got a call from a piano aficionado who was looking at one of our instruments. What exactly are the differences between the Sauter Masterline 130 (M-Line) and the 130 Basic, he was asking. Next to him was Rich Gallassini, the co-owner of Cunningham Pianos and a dear friend. I was trying to catch an airplane and gave a brief description of the main points and promised more specifics. So Henry, here is the answer:
The Masterline is one of the of the finest uprights in the world. It was designed for customers who really want a sound that compares to a small grand but do not have the space for it in their home. It is also an instrument that is geared to customers who appreciate aesthetic details and seek in products they buy the superlative. In order to satisfy both requirements, i.e. superior sound quality and tasteful appearance, we decided to go beyond the extraordinary.
The M-Line utilizes wood from Northern Italy for its soundboard. The little valley of Val di Fiemme has become known over the centuries for the ideal properties of its spruce forests for the production of musical instruments and famous violin makers like Stradivarius and Guarneri sourced their materials there. Sauter uses wood from two areas from Central Europe and while we believe that both make for excellent material for highest quality performance pianos, historically wood from Val di Fiemme has been valued higher and professional pianists have often expressed their preference for instruments that utilize fiemmese timber. The M-Line has an iron cast frame that is polished and smooth like a grand piano. Upon opening the front panel beautiful bird’s eye maple veneer becomes visible. Every part in the instrument has been finished with utmost care and in order to help the owner ensure a proper environment the Masterline has a built in hygrometer. The action of the M-line is also visibly different: the hammers are usually made of light colored beech wood, however, the M-Line uses walnut wood which adds to the visual effect. The action of the M-Line is also slightly different in design and is a bit smoother in feel. While the details are proprietary, a professional pianist will be able to detect the subtle nuance in its feel. The cashmere felt that is employed in the M-Line adds both to its visual appeal and is a higher grade material not common in pianos. The M-Line has, of course, a Sostenuto pedal and a soft falling fallboard.
I know of no other manufactuer that builds an upright comparable to the Sauter M-Line or goes to similar lengths to make it aesthetically appealing. While all these aspects are certainly very impressive, truth be told, so is the price.
Enter the 130 Basic. When we decided to focus on the U.S. market, it became clear that both our production costs and the sliding U.S. dollar would make it almost prohibitive for serious pianists on a budget to afford the M-Line. Thus, the 130 Basic became an instrument that is a good alternative.
The 130 Basic employs the identical scale design as the M-Line and has the identical musical properties. While the M-Line reaches beyond the extraordinary the 130 Basic utilizes the finest materials that are used by German and Austrian piano manufacturers in their grand pianos. The wood for its soundboard is sourced from the mountains of Central Austria (around Salzburg and into Southern Bavaria). It has the highest quality grade Renner action and has two pedals. (Note: while there is difference in the design of the action, only sufficiently advanced pianists will be able to detect it). The case is simpler and it does not come with the soft-falling fallboard. Both the 130 Basic and the M-Line feature the renowned R2 Repetition.
The 130 Basic is distributed only in the U.S. and one other market. It is a wonderful instrument for a pianist who needs a professional tool of the highest quality or for an aficionado who enjoyes a beautiful sounding bass and a melodious and colorful treble.
Recently, while on travels and at an Authorized Sauter Dealer’s showroom, a customer asked the store manager what the difference between Sauter and other European manufacturers is. I listened in to his well formulated description of the technical differences and the principles of production and sound, and I could not have agreed more. Later, on the flight back I reflected on the customer’s question and realized all the reasons why I joined Sauter at the time and what differences I noted when I got to know the company. I am not sure that I can describe it in one posting and I will not try it. The best I can do is to say that Sauter is a company where the bosses sing along….. this saying sounds better in German but to get the point across I have added some video clips.
The following material is from last year’s company Christmas party. It was already late and - admittedly- some had already had their second round of drinks. The gentleman at the piano is Mr. Ulrich Sauter, followed by Ms. Schmidt, the head of office administration, Mr. Hott ,an excellent singer and the company’s president is with white shirt and tie, Mr. Jansch, one of the two factory supervisors can be identified by his white beard and then the camera rolls on to Mr. Schnitzer, the second factory supervisor. Enjoy!
The International Contemporary Furniture (ICFF) will be opening its doors from May 17. to May 20., 2008 in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York. The ICFF is North America’s premier event for contemporary design and this year celebrates its 20th anniversary. During the four days 21,000 designers, architects, retailers, facility managers, wholesalers, store design professionals, and hotel and restaurant designers will get a glimpse -spread across 145,000 sqf- of the cutting edge of modern design. Of course, Sauter Piano Company - the leader in modern design pianos- will be also represented.
Under the initiative of the Authorized Sauter Dealer for New York, Klavierhaus Inc., Sauter Piano Company will exhibit some of its most recognized design instruments created by Peter Maly. “Our customers want to have beautiful instruments of highest quality in their homes”, says Sujatri Reisinger, owner of Klavierhaus and its service director. “The most fascinating part is that although Sauter Piano Company is the world’s oldest piano manufacturer, founded in 1819, and steeped in tradition-the company has been the leader in piano design and was the first one to think in new and modern ways about the aesthetics of the piano.” adds Gabor Reisinger, owner and General Manager of Klavierhaus, Inc..
Sauter Pianos had always distinguished themselves through special aesthetics which were developed in-house. In the early 1990ies Sauter Piano Company and European designer star, Peter Maly, commenced working together. Since then half a dozen designer uprights and two Maly grand pianos were presented to the public. The Peter Maly design instruments received the Good Design Award in the United States and the Red Dot Award in Europe but most importantly customers across the globe rewarded the company’s vision. Thus designer instruments have become an integral part of the Sauter factory.
In order to adequately present the instruments Sauter USA teamed up with world reknown modern furniture manufacturer Lignet Roset with whom star designer Peter Maly had also closely worked together. The booth will feature Rive Droit chairs as well as the Offrande coffee table in gold. The highlight of the Sauter booth will be the presentation of the Ambiente - a 7′6” semi-concert grand. This grand piano was shown in January of 2008 for the first time to the American public and is the latest addition to Sauter’s Peter Maly design line. The show is closed to the general public for the first three days but open to anyone who would like to come on May 20th.
Notes:
Photo 1: Sauter Model Ambiente 7′6”- Semi-Concert Grand, Photo 2: Sauter Model Imago Upright, Photo 3: Offrande- Lignet Roset Table - part of the Sauter Booth, courtesy Lignet Roset USA, Photo 4: Rive Droit, courtesy Lignet Roset USA.
Every year during the summer the craftsmen of the world’s oldest piano manufacturer prepare a long afternoon of good food, fun and laughter. Everyone - from apprentice to our senior pianobuilder- participates and enjoys the cameraderie in our company. This year we decided to extend the invitation to every customer who wants to join us and who purchases a Sauter instrument from an Authorized Sauter Dealer from Feb. 1 until May 7 to come to Germany and be part of our Summerfest.
The trip will be from June 22nd to June 25 of 2008. It will include a tour of the Sauter factory, a visit to the city of Rottweil- one of the oldest cities in Germany-, concerts, a visit to the Castle of Hohenzollern which was the last residence of the German Imperial Family, and a day trip to Bodensee with the possibility of wine tasting of the local wineries. It has been also arranged between the CEO of Porsche Car Company and Mr. Ulrich Sauter that those interested in visiting the Porsche Factory can participate in a private tour.
The trip will be hosted by Mr. Ulrich Sauter - who represents the sixth generation of the Sauter family to lead the factory. He is also the president of the German Pianobuilder Association and on the Board of the Association of German Piano Builders.
This promotion is for U.S. customers. For promotional details please contact your Authorized Sauter Dealer.
Paris, France. The French piano magazine “Pianiste” published an in-depth comparison of the three major German manufacturers of high quality pianos in its April 2007 issue. The test was geared at uprights around 120 cm ( 48′) and Sauter provided its entry model, the Resonance 120, to be examined. The instruments were evaluated in seven categories and descriptevely ranked. The Sauter Resonance 120 superseded its colleagues in six of the seven criterias.
The magazine “Pianiste” described the reasons for Sauter’s highest ranking as follows: “Small details make the difference…Sauter uprights have always caught our attention. There is no need to mention the quality of the manufacturing process and the prestige of the brand….but at such a reasonable price this model mesmerized us due to its musicality and its superior breadth in sound and tone. All sections of the piano are unusually harmonious and provide plush richness of sound. The double repetition (translator’s note: this refers to Sauter’s patented RR action) offers convenience and comfortability and is by far more responsive than other upright pianos. The action of the tested instrument was light and allowed excellent controll in the passages that require pianissimo without hampering its overall responsivess. We appreciate the detailed care of the exterior frame….”. The magazine commended all three instruments and manufacturers for the overall high quality and the value of the instruments.
There is something magical about this little city comfortably located 75 miles from Zurich and 67 miles from Stuttgart. The valley-das Primtal-flows from North to South. Waking, you are greeted by the gold-crested ridge on the east. In rising, the sun has silhouetted the mountain on the east breaking the horizon between dark ridges and radiant, exuberantly colored skies. Visitors to this beautiful place can not deny the resonance in this place where natural and manufactured beauty blend.
I decide to climb Dreifaltigkeitsberg (Trinity Mountain). On the top there is a monastery I am told. I am stopped by a lindenbaum–a linden tree. It seems to talk to me and as I draw closer a plaque reveals its purpose: to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the mighty German poet and freedom lover Friedrich Schiller. Few know that Schiller and Sauter Company’s history intertwine; perhaps a story for later. I smile and continue. The view from the top is breathtaking. Magical, the only word capable of encompassing the feeling here. This place seems to hold an attitude long lost, a gentleness of a time forgotten. It’s appropriate, really, as this is home to some of the worlds oldest and most progressive companies. For instance, the world’s oldest piano manufacturer that has been continuously in business, the world’s most coveted automobile manufacturer, home to one of the world’s leading medical supply companies and one of the world’s leading cloth and fashion designers and the world’s leading harmonica manufacturer. Concentrated in this area are Sauter, Mercedes-Benz, Aesculap, Hugo Boss and Hohner Harmonicas. Yes–Spaichigen is a place of magic.
Every year the Sauter Family is joined by music and art loving individuals across the world who invite a Sauter piano into their home. Extending from Sweden to South Africa, from Berlin to Shanghai and on to Seattle, we find that piano lovers choose Sauter instruments…and so often they want to know more about the tradition, people and stories that are connected or related to Sauter Piano Company.
We created the Sauter Forum to offer a better glimpse into who we are and what we stand for. The entries will not be in perfect English or literary works as we will ask our partners across the world to contribute but we hope that you will enjoy them. I invite you to send us interesting contributions about Sauter pianos from your corner of the world.
