The presented book, the amplified proceedings of the symposium "Das Wiener Klavier 1850", held at Neue Burg
(Vienna) in 2003 combines as regards content recent organological and biographical research, answers questions
concerning the original-instrument performance of the romantic period and focuses on technological features in the
making of the Viennese pianoforte. In the 2nd half of the 18th century Vienna became the European centre of
production of pianofortes whereas the typical Viennese pianoforte-sound, evolved from special technological and
constructional parameters, acted as a stimulant on composers and interprets. Many instrument makers - some of
them originally German - working and living in Vienna contributed to this uplifting evolution with their innovative
work for the Austrian Court or simply as civic craftsmen. A quite impressive amount of material about their
biographies and contracts was investigated and is an integral part of the publication. With the beginning of the 19th
century firms in Paris and London were of utmost importance for the pianoforte industry. Broadwood and Erard for
instance in an international terrain and started an early mass-production of instruments based on the English action.
Beside these instruments the Viennese pianoforte with its German action could not easily compete with. The book
contains the analysis of the manufacturing techniques of the Viennese pianoforte and of the company organisations
respectively the corporate structures of the comparatively small businessmen in the Austrian region and the
Hapsburg Crown lands particularly with regard to the interactions between the Viennese, German and Italian
workshops. Moreover the variants in aesthetic design and development of the Viennese pianofortes until the time
by 1850 are pointed out and results of recent dendrochronological research of instruments preserved by renowned
collections are published in this book.