Pierre Erard

Biography

Pierre Erard, nephew of Sebastian Erard, obtained an English patent in 1821 for his uncle's invention of a "repetition or double escapement action" for grand pianos -- the action credited with making the worldwide fame of Erard grand pianos. He is further credited with patenting the capo tasto in 1838, a device following the same principle of downward string pressure near the wrest plank pioneered by Erard's agraffe, and one that came to be used in varied forms in nearly all grand and upright pianos. Pierre Erard was the nephew of piano manufacturer Sebastian Erard. When Sebastian returned to Paris after the turmoil of the French Revolution had subsided, he left Pierre in charge of the London Erard establishment that he had founded there while in exile. The text mentions this arrangement as part of what it calls the only recorded instance of a piano manufacturer moving his business from one country to another. Pierre Erard of Paris is named alongside Sebastian Erard as having finally outclassed the English and German masters who had for years sought to perfect an action suited to the grand piano's greater tonal capacity. No further individual biographical detail about Pierre Erard -- his relationship to Sebastian Erard, dates, or specific contributions -- is given in this excerpt. Pierre Erard, nephew of Sebastian Erard, managed the London branch of the Erard piano and harp business during his uncle's lifetime. Upon Sebastian Erard's death in 1831, Pierre was named sole heir to the business and estate. He made Paris his domicile from 1834, traveling periodically to London to oversee affairs there. Pierre Erard died in Paris in 1855. From Spillane (1890): Pierre Erard was the son of Sebastian Erard and, from 1821, his business partner. In that year he patented the Erard double-escapement grand action, an innovation that made Erard grand pianos famous throughout the musical world. When the British patent rights expired in 1835, Pierre sought to have the action protected for a further term. He pursued the matter through the English superior courts at great expense and ultimately appealed to the House of Lords, an unusual course of action. Drawing on many influential friends among the British aristocracy, he succeeded in obtaining an extension of the patent. Spillane credits the Erard firm generally, under Pierre's continued direction, with numerous further improvements between 1800 and 1840, including a method of "bearing" for the strings, significant case-building innovations, and, by the firm's own claim, the first introduction of the shifting transposition action in the grand piano.

Highlights

• Along with Sebastian Erard, finally "outclassed" the English and German makers who had long sought to perfect the grand piano action.
• Obtained an English patent in 1821 for his uncle Sebastian Erard's "repetition or double escapement action," which made the worldwide fame of Erard grand pianos
• Patented the capo tasto in 1838, now used in varied forms in nearly all grand and upright pianos
• Nephew of Sebastian Erard
• Placed in charge of the London Erard establishment when Sebastian returned to Paris after the French Revolution
• Named sole heir to Sebastian Erard's business and estate upon Sebastian's death in 1831
• Managed the London Erard works and later made Paris his domicile
• Died in Paris in 1855
• Son of Sebastian Erard and his business partner; patented the famous Erard double-escapement grand action in 1821.
• When the British patent expired in 1835, pursued an extension through the English courts and the House of Lords, ultimately succeeding with the help of influential friends.

Sources

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911), pp. 61, 254.

Daniel Spillane, History of the American Pianoforte (1890), pp. 25, 26.

Public domain.