Johann Andreas Stein was born 16 May 1728 in Heidelsheim. Stein settled 140 or so miles away in Augsburg about 1750. He learned his trade as an organ builder from his father and he built the organ at the Barfüßerkirche - this was the first Protestant church in Augsburg. As a bonus, he became the organist at the church! By 1760, he had decided to give up the organ building trade in favour of building stringed keyboard instruments.
Taking Schroters action design as a model, he set out to improve it, making his first piano in 1768. By 1780, Stein’s daughter Nannette, a musician but also, having a sound scientific grasp of piano-building, was involved in refining the Schroter design. This action was the preferred choice of the likes of Mozart and Beethoven.
With this action, the ‘German’ or ‘Vienna’ School of piano building was firmly established. The advantages over the ‘English’ School was the very easy, lighter touch and the sweeter tone. What these pianos lacked was the capacity for a stronger, powerful tone. But, for the time being, and with the endorsement of the great masters, there was strong demand for Stein pianos.
A further development of the Stein action came in 1824, designed by Stein’s grandson, Johann Baptist Streicher. Piano-building was clearly a genetic condition passed down through the generations! This action was instantly approved by players and other makers.
Over Stein’s career as piano maker, he made about 700 pianos. His pianos were widely reproduced - especially in Vienna. Good grounds for his being called the ‘father’ of the Vienna School.
He died in Augsburg 29 February 1792.
© Steve Burden
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