Welcome to GeoffreyDancer.com
The Geoffrey Dancer Memorial Fund
The fund has been set up by Geoff's family with Emanuel School, Wandsworth in memory of his musical life. Geoff taught at the school for many years and we hope to raise funds through charitable donations on an annual basis and award the Geoffrey Dancer Prize to a young talented pianist each year.
The first Geoffrey Dancer Music Prize will be awarded to a very talented young female pianist at Emanuel School who is currently in year 11. She has already won the overall prize in the school's instrumental competition and achieved Grade 8 piano, Grade 4 organ, Grade 7 violin and singing grade 8. A worthy recipient of the award for 2009-2010.
With current funds we will be able to send the winner on a music summer school at Dartington Hall and afford similar prizes for many years to come.
Sincere thanks to everyone who has made a donation to the fund so far."
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If you wish to make a donation you may do so in two ways:
On Line: Go to www.emanuel.org.uk, follow the links to 'Support Us' and on the 'Donate Now' form select 'Geoffrey Dancer Prize' in the pop up menu in 'Additional Details'. Debit and Credit payment are accepted. Gift Aid is automatically claimed if you declare you are a taxpayer.
By Cheque: Please make your cheque payable to Emanuel School and send to Sarah Fisher at Emanuel School, Battersea Rise, London SW11 1HS.
Gift Aid: If you are a tax payer the school can reclaim tax on your gift, therefore in your covering letter, please write that you wish your gift to be donated to the Geoffrey Dancer Prize. Use the words: 'I declare that I am a UK taxpayer and I wish the school to treat, as Gift Aid, all my contributions to the Emanuel School Fund held by United Westminster Schools Charitable Foundation, charity No. 309267.'
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Following Geoff's death in December 2008, his business interests, and work in progress, have been passed to:
Derek Love
Piano Workshop
46b Albert Road North
Reigate
Surrey RH2 9EL
Tel 01737 242174
Website www.pianoworkshop.co.uk
Email info@pianoworkshop.co.uk
Please contact Derek with any enquiries you might have.
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This webpage is a repository of photos, videos, music and reminiscences of Geoff. The copy from Geoff's business website is here, which explains his approach to pianos and their restoration.
If you would like something posted on this page, do please send it to us by email.
30th January 2009
What makes a Piano?
Simply expressed, the piano is instrument whose characteristic tone is a result of the amplification of vibrating strings (struck by felt hammers) in contact via a wooden bridge connected to a large thin diaphragm (the soundboard).
The evolution of the piano from its origins in the 18th century has been a constant search for an ever improved sustaining quality. This sustaining quality is paramount and is the factor most sought after by the pianist as the key to expressive range. All Geoff’s piano restoration work is toward this optimum goal.
This sustaining quality is basically dependent on the three elements mentioned earlier: the strings, hammers, and soundboard and their subtle interaction. The hammers contribute the volume of sound as well as quality of impact on the strings, the strings give the pitch and sustain this impact whilst the soundboard adds body and consequently ‘colour’.
Although crudely speaking a percussion instrument, the alchemy of the piano lies in the way that it can, given the right instrument and performer, be as expressive and suggestive as a bowed stringed instrument or even a voice.
Strings and hammers may be regarded as ‘service’ items; not improved by age, and replaceable without affecting the essential character of an instrument. It is the nature of the soundboard, and its contribution to the production of sound, that makes old pianos worth the trouble and costs of restoration.
The quality of old violins from the great makers has for a long time been accepted as the summit towards which modern makers must aspire to climb; for pianos, some of the same arguments apply - the quality and seasoning of the wood in the soundboard, for example.
And yet many people - encouraged perhaps by the new piano industry and its commercial interests - still regard pianos as machines, and suitable for replacement every few years. Read on for more on this debate and about piano restoration….
