I had a chance to go to Panchgani (where Freddie went to school) recently and naturally I went to St. Peter's to see Freddie's piano. I had read in many interviews that 10 years after his death the piano got burnt in a fire, and was just a burnt out hollow shell. However the piano I was shown as Freddie's, although very old, and completely out of tune (they let me actually play it!!!) is not at all burnt. The people there confirmed that this was Freddie's piano. What do you think is going on? Any ideas? I have attached a picture of the piano I saw.
Heavenite wrote:
I would thnk Its too good a story to let the piano get destroyed. Even if it did! Does it attract a significant number of tourists to it?
I was told that about 20 to 30 people come each year from all over the world to Panchgani just to see the piano. Considering Panchgani is on a hill-top and it is quite a trip, that sounds about right.
It would be something intersting to see. Though I don't think I'd go completely out of my way to see it unless I was near there. I've always found it amazing how Freddie went from being born in a third world country to becoming a music legend. Not meaning offence to anyone, it just seems like that could be a difficult thing to pull off. Though, Freddie had more opportunities available than a lot of people from those areas did.
Freddies school was a rather exclusive and expensive boarding school. I find it hard to believe they kept the same old upright piano. They had no idea he would go on to be Freddie Mercury. Great story to get the tourists in though...
The place where I work earns loads and loads and loads of money every day, is located in a world superpower (Britain), and it's still got the same out of tune upright pianos (four of them, IIRC) as it did decades ago. Reason? Buying new pianos and/or giving the old ones some much needed maintenance is not a priority. The more money you have, the less you want to spend on what board members may consider to be a waste or an unnecessary luxury.
So yes, it is possible that it's the same piano he used, just as it's possible that it's not.
Sebastian is quite right about people not getting rid of old pianos. Actually my old school still has the same piano as when I was studying there! Lol! This piano I saw was a Collard and Collard, quite popular in India during the 1950s. Plus it did have a few dents and chips. I guess I am just hoping it really was Freddie's piano.
Panchgani wrote:
I also visited Panchgani a few years ago while in India in business and took pictures of the piano and visited the school for an hour or so.
Your username says 'burnt piano'. Was the piano you saw burnt? Or the same one I did?
I did a little digging on the internet and found many articles statiing that Freddie played a 'Moutrie' piano in Panchgani. The piano I saw had 'Collard and Collard' in big letters, and then 'Moutrie' underneath. Moutrie was an affiliate of Collard and Collard. Hey, looks like that may have been Freddie's piano after all. And I actually got to play it! I am thrilled!
When I visited, I recall that the piano was unobtrusively located in a main hallway and was completely covered by a red "blanket". I did not realize that the piano was there until Peter Patrao pointed it out.
I do not recall the piano being adjacent to stairs leading to a stage, so I assume the piano was moved during the past few years.
The picture below my user name is what I saw. it might have been playable. I did not ask. When I viewed it, the red tarp was still partially covering the piano.
When I was there I spoke with an older man named Peter Patrao who was almost completely blind and was Freddie's former math instructor. The following is an article concerning Peter Patrao's memories of Freddie's life at the school, and of course ... the story concerning the burnt-out shell of a Moutrie piano.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Music/Panchgani-s-wild-strawberry/Article1-741749.aspx
The picture below my user name is what I saw. it might have been playable. I did not ask. When I viewed it, the red tarp was still partially covering the piano.
When I was there I spoke with an older man named Peter Patrao who was almost completely blind and was Freddie's former math instructor. The following is an article concerning Peter Patrao's memories of Freddie's life at the school, and of course ... the story concerning the burnt-out shell of a Moutrie piano.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Music/Panchgani-s-wild-strawberry/Article1-741749.aspx
Yes, that's the one.But it certainly was not a burnt out shell. Perhaps some exaggeration on Mr. Patrao's part..?
Panchgani wrote:
Perhaps only the wooden exterior was damaged by the fire, and the less flammable ivories and metal wires left intact?
I think you are right. It was horribly out of tune, and a couple of the keys were a bit lopsided, so I am sure it was not used for the school after the fire; just kept as a souvenir I guess.