By Alix Norman
This should be my melodic magnum opus, the moment to which all my years of practice have led: the clouds will part, angels gather, and Bach himself will smile down from heaven on my Toccata and Fugue… So I’m somewhat understandably bemused to discover that, rather than the music of the spheres, I appear to be playing straight out of My First Piano Primer; the knowledge in my fingers, it seems, has not been passed to my feet! Nevertheless, I’m fascinated. Here is a piano that’s going to put every novice and expert in Nicosia on –if you’ll pardon the pun – a very level footing!
“You certainly don’t have to be musical to play the big piano!” Stavros laughs. “In fact, it might actually be a hindrance. It’s a piano for people of all ages, all backgrounds, all walks of life; an instrument that’s made to be walked on, interacted with and enjoyed!” Which is – once I get over the idea of trying to perfect the Maple Leaf Rag – exactly what I do. I jump up and down on the keys (they light up, as well as sustain), tiptoe through a few arpeggios and even attempt to stretch an octave (thank goodness for lycra!). And in the process, I discover that not only is this incredible fun – and a fairly stringent exercise routine – it’s also an utterly unique form of enjoyment.
The Big Piano was, you will recall, the highlight of the Tom Hanks’ hit Big: the iconic scene in which the two protagonists step out Chopsticks and FAO Schwarz has had crowds flocking to the New York toy emporium for the past 27 years. Designed specifically for the film, and rarely reproduced, today there are fewer than 20 in existence – and no place, anywhere, boasts more than one. Until now, that is. Because this Christmas, Nicosia will be the first city in the world to enjoy a total of four Big Pianos… All in communal sites, and all completely free for the public to enjoy!
Co-organised by the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education, and sponsored by the Hellenic Bank and Kyriakides Piano Gallery, the Big Piano project is yet another exceptional offering from AvantgardeCultural Foundation, of whom Stavros Kyriakides is the President. And, like the Play Me, I’m Yours venture that last year saw 10 decorated pianos placed in public places around Nicosia, it’s a project that’s designed to bring music straight to the people.
“Avantgarde’s main aim is to bring people closer to the arts, especially music,” Stavros explains. “We try to generate interest, motivate people, bring them into concert halls, get them listening to new projects and embracing local composers. We’re always trying to be original, to implement new ventures to intrigue and fascinate. Play Me, I’m Yours was one such project, and it was absolutely unique in that it was the first time, I believe, that art and music had melded in such a way. Inviting 10 of the best local painters, sculptors, engravers and so forth to decorate 10 pianos which were then placed in the public spaces of Nicosia created a huge buzz. People who had never previously been at a piano found they couldn’t help but sit down and try a few notes – and that for me was the major achievement of the whole project.”
With Play Me, I’m Yours an estimated 250,000 people came into contact with at least one of the street pianos. But the Big Piano project is all set to be – well – even bigger! “We’re picking up where we left off,” says Stavros. “With Play Me, I’m Yours people told us we’d elevated them to new heights, so we thought,” he grins, “we’d bring them back down to the ground. Literally!”
Of course, getting four state-of-the-art floor pianos to Cyprus was no easy job, especially as creator Remo Saraceni won’t produce for just anyone. “It took me a while to find out who was behind the big pianos,” Stavros explains. “They’re not manufactured or marketed, but made as one-offs for places such as museums and hospitals.” Tracking down the inventor and explaining the aim of the project was a challenge – “nobody has ever placed an order for more than one at a time, we were stepping into unknown territory,” Stavros adds – but Remo was very excited by the idea, agreeing to produce all four in time for the festive season. “I’ve lost six kilos and twenty years of my life bringing these pianos to Cyprus in time for Christmas,” Stavros laughs. “But we did it, and when they arrived from America I felt like a child unwrapping presents on Christmas morning!”
Each weighing in at over 100kg and stretching four octaves, the big pianos are truly unique: made of the highest quality materials and possessing excellent loudspeakers, the pianos are run by high-tech computer equipment. “It’s not a toy, not a keyboard mat,” Stavros adds. “This is a state-of-the-art computer-generated musical instrument – which also happens to be part of Hollywood history.”
That’s not to say one should tread softly around the edge of these amazing instruments: the idea is that the big pianos should be walked over, played on, and enjoyed to the utmost. Shoppers are encouraged to walk right across them – unless they’re wearing high heels, which could damage the keyboards. “Don’t walk around it – walk on it!” Stavros urges. “We want people to interact, even if for 10 seconds between one shop and the next. Music,” he concludes, “is not just for musicians. And the Big Piano project is for everyone…”
Who knows, in walking across a Big Piano, families might find they’ve inadvertently stepped out the first notes of Chariots of Fire, children could discover hitherto unknown melodic abilities, and perfect strangers might start creating musical harmony! As for me? Well, in the next couple of weeks you’ll no doubt find me putting my best foot forward in a dogged attempt to perfect my Toccata. Come on down and join me for what promises to be the biggest, best and most musical Christmas ever!
Four ‘big pianos’ will be placed in public around Nicosia for everyone to enjoy. The installation will run from December 12 to 24, with one piano in each of the following locations: City Plaza, Strovolos Cultural Centre, the Mall of Engomi, the Mall of Cyprus. For more information, visit the Facebook page Kyriakides Piano Gallery. Visitors will be able to upload their photos and videos to social media using the hashtag #bigpianonicosia
