Playing the "Too Fat Polka" on my 1914 Steinway "K" upright.

Here I am playing the "Too Fat Polka" my restored 1914 Steinway "K" upright piano. I'm playing a tune that I first heard on the Gebruder Bruder Elite Orchestra Apollo organ on the now closed B&B Carousell at Coney Island on May 23, 1997. The B&B Carousell is probably undergoing restoration at this time. It is expected to be back at Coney Island by the 2010 season. FYI, the Gebruder Bruder organ on the B&B Carousell plays 66 key B.A.B. paper rolls. It originally played 65 key books until 1935 when it was converted to play paper rolls. However, the music does sound good on the piano and those who are familiar with the music on the B.A.B. paper rolls will get a feeling of the way it sounds even though I'm playing it on the piano. If the music makes you want to have a Nathan's hot dog, go right ahead. That is what the music is all about. It is the spirit of Coney Island captured on the piano. I have now included the title of the tune in the video description since someone has guessed the title off site.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Steinway
• upright
• piano
• B.A.B.66key
• Coney
• Island
• B&B
• Carousell
• carousel
• music
• band
• organ
• Gebruder
• Bruder
• Too
• Fat
• Polka

[zipzapusa]

Hi, Great sound and playing!

Do you know a source for the sheet music for this song?

Keep on playing such fun music.

[alterman156]

@zipzapusa You might be able to get the score in the Internet.

[tnmtemerity]

This video makes me really unlikely to go out and spend at least $3000 (easily double that which put you in the range of cheaper 7 foot grands or maybe even a really old concert grand from say Knabe)for an upright piano that sounds no better than the Hamond Upright I got for free...

[alterman156]

If you listen carefully enough to an old Steinway upright that has been carefully restored or in superb original condition, it is much better sounding than the average middle class upright of the period. A good many upright pianos made during the early 20th century were low to medium cost instruments. The Steinway uprights were top quality instruments. There were also other better quality upright pianos made during the early 20th century by many outfits that manufactured pianos.

[tnmtemerity]

I guess I'm one who believes in the theory that Steinway is the best marketed piano on earth. Most any Teacher or performer would Say that a 6' Knabe Grand piano from the Same era is a better instrument than a Steinway K. I'm sure it's current market value is = or < the K. When it comes to Grands for the Price of the Smallest Steinway Grand you can have a Yamaha C7 which is vastly superior in tone quality.

[alterman156]

Let's get down to the nitty gritty. I was only comparing other pianos in the same class. Of course a 6'+ Knabe grand is going to have a better sound than any Steinway upright. A large Yamaha grand is going to sound better than a Steinway "S" grand. However, a Steinway "B" is a better intsrument than a Yamaha C7. I don't dismiss Yamaha since they generally build a good piano for the money. Yamaha does build artist's quality grands that can be compared to Steinway.

[DebussyDream]

Let's not forget that Glenn Gould chose to record the '81 Goldberg Variations on a Yamaha! And if you know anything about Gould, he was nothing if not picky!

[anglerfly]

How do you know the names of the songs? and is there a recording of the organ? can it play 165 rolls? and Your piano playing is better than the organ's playing.

[anglerfly]

I play piano like that to!

[sofabike]

Love it :)))

It is a History of The Cinematography

[tnmtemerity]

Well, then it depends on how you define class. When talking about people it usually refers to income or net worth. In that case it is perfectly fine to compare a 6' Knabe Grand to a Steinway K because they cost should be similar from a dealer anyway hence they would be in the same price range. I don't know about a B being so much better than a C7. Emmanual Ax has even recorded for sony on a C7 and obviously he could opt for other pianos. Steinways are good piano but, bad values...