Louis Schöne
German
Biography
Louis Schöne, the author's uncle, is credited with constructing pedal pianos as early as 1843 in Leipsic, for both Robert Schumann and Felix Mendelssohn, at a time when the text notes no other record of such instruments exists. For Mendelssohn he built a pedal mechanism intended for use with a grand piano, while for Schumann he constructed a pedal action connected to a regular upright piano. The upright version had a pedal keyboard of 29 notes placed beneath the manual keyboard, connected to an action at the back of the instrument, with a dedicated soundboard covered by 29 strings built into the case. Schumann is said to have written some of his best music using this instrument.
Highlights
- Constructed pedal pianos for Robert Schumann and Felix Mendelssohn at Leipsic in 1843
- Built a special pedal mechanism to be used with a grand piano for Mendelssohn
- Uncle of the author, Alfred Dolge
Source
Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911), p. 191.
Public domain.