A Tale of Two Baldwins

I am away from Brown's campus this semester for my dissertation research, and so the next set of posts will feature photos, videos, and reflections by other Brown community members who are checking in on the piano this spring.

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This week's visit and reflection is from Dawn Cabral, recording artist and Brown staff:

"I moved to Rhode Island just over 8 years ago and my piano never made it inside the house. A Baldwin spinnet wrapped in a heavy quilt sitting in my garage serves as a valuable tabletop surface for other bulky items to be stored. Once I discovered the versatility and mobility of professional grade keyboards and stage pianos, I was no longer compelled to bring that Baldwin inside the home. I must not be the only one feeling this way, as attempts to sell it and even donate it have been unfruitful and simply disposing of it costs about $250. I’ve often wondered what a piano left unattended and out in the elements would sound like and one day in March came my chance. A routine daily email at work came with an announcement looking for participants on Devanney’s piano decomposition thesis at Brown University. A simple offering to come interact with a piano that was just simply left alone outside under some beautiful willow trees on campus and describe your experience. An experience it was... 

I wasn’t sure what to expect as far as sound, if the piano even made any sound, or if the piano was even still on its legs. I wasn’t sure how long the piano had been left sitting there quietly degrading. One gorgeous afternoon in April, I made my way over to this lovely setting and took a few pictures - it’s an unusual sight - a full size grand piano warped and rotting under the trees. The piano was unplayable and raw. All the ivory was missing, revealing the wooden keys. My reflection on that brought sadness, but also some quiet beauty, the way only sadness can do. A piano is just an inanimate object, sitting there in silence, requiring a player to bring it to life, and even when a player arrived, it wouldn’t come to life. The piano just simply existed. I wonder when the project is “over.” And if it should receive a proper good-bye. Some sort of celebration where there is live music and we light it on fire? I bet the smell would be fabulous and unforgettable.

My Baldwin is still wrapped in that quilt, but this project inspired me to get after it and document what happens."

Days in place: 792

Weather: sunny, 63°F