"I don't make mistakes."

April 14, 2015 9:41 AM

Hans Kühner, of G. Henle Verlag, a publisher of classical music urtexts, hypnotically engraves a sheet of Liszt the old-fashioned way.
posted by theodolite (18 comments total)

I didn't have the sound on when the video first started playing and all I can say is that in my mind I heard the worst of instrumental 80s sitcom intro themes and expected after the dissolve to have the next shot open on an interior soundstage while hearing, "Verlag is performed before a live studio audience."
posted by komara at 9:49 AM on April 14, 2015

"Hypnotically" was the mot juste. That was fascinating, thank you.
posted by yoink at 9:53 AM on April 14, 2015

That was wonderful, thanks.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 9:53 AM on April 14, 2015

check the chair/sofa/whatever it is visible at :30, in front of the shelves. Want!
posted by thelonius at 9:59 AM on April 14, 2015

Is there a word for the satisfaction derived from watching someone perform their craft well? There probably is. I bet it's German.

Well, this video is that word.
posted by ghostiger at 10:12 AM on April 14, 2015 [3 favorites]

Fascinating! I would love to see him try engraving Faerie's Aire and Death Waltz
posted by damayanti at 10:20 AM on April 14, 2015 [1 favorite]

damayanti: memorial piece by a relative of John Stump, composer of Faerie's Aire and Death Waltz.
posted by larrybob at 10:43 AM on April 14, 2015 [4 favorites]

So this passes as Henle Blue, right?

Anyway, this was very interesting for someone who uses scores from all times all the time.
posted by Namlit at 10:49 AM on April 14, 2015

A master making that engraving look so, so easy.
posted by clockbound at 11:00 AM on April 14, 2015

check the chair/sofa/whatever it is visible at :30, in front of the shelves. Want!

The Tatlin Spiral Sofa can be yours for a mere 12,000 pounds. Get it while the USD is strong!
posted by yoink at 11:02 AM on April 14, 2015 [3 favorites]

I hope he's wearing hearing protection.
posted by Evstar at 11:42 AM on April 14, 2015

engraves a sheet of Liszt the old-fashioned way.

...atop a lithography stone. That's Xibit-level there: Yo dawg, I know you love printing...
posted by Ogre Lawless at 12:39 PM on April 14, 2015

Are those sheets of lead? I wonder how he avoids poisoning himself, if so. Is it tin?
posted by a lungful of dragon at 12:53 PM on April 14, 2015

Good post, thanks. Truly interesting. (I was surprised when he hammered out the tempos, letter by letter.)
posted by LeLiLo at 12:56 PM on April 14, 2015

If you don't mind your spiral sofa pre-bummed, you can grab one for under half that.
posted by Devonian at 1:17 PM on April 14, 2015

Are those sheets of lead?

Lead would be way too soft. Most fine-art engraving is on copper plates, and that would work for music too. But it appears those are pewter plates.
posted by charlie don't surf at 3:58 PM on April 14, 2015 [1 favorite]

I once was blind and now I see!
posted by cleroy at 5:49 PM on April 14, 2015

I had no idea.
posted by 3.2.3 at 9:49 PM on April 14, 2015