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NOTE BY NOTE: THE MAKING OF STEINWAY L1037
Produced & Directed by Ben Niles.
Director of Photography Ben Wolf with Luke Geisbuhler, Niles & Geoff O’Brien.
Edited by Purcell Carson & O’Brien.
USA. 81 min. Not Rated.

For the last four years, I have resided in Queens, NY. One of my local subway stops is Steinway Street. But not until I saw Note by Note did I put two and two together that the road was named after the famed Steinway & Sons piano factory, which has made its home there for over 100 years. Of course, I know Steinway is one of – if not the – most renowned piano makers in the world, but it just goes to show that in today’s world we may take even the simplest things at face value, not pausing to look a little closer.

This documentary follows the making of one particular grand piano, the L1037, and intercuts the process with interviews of famous pianists (Bill Charlap, Harry Connick Jr., and Lang Lang), many of whom are shown selecting the Steinway they will use for performance. But what strikes you the most is the total love and respect the factory workers have for the process and the unabashed pride in being able to say they made a Steinway. As one man puts it, “I don’t know anyone who can afford these,” but he loves knowing that he makes them.

It takes, on average, one year to make a Steinway and the entire process is done by hand, the same way it has been done since the factory first opened its doors. The grand pianos sell from upwards of $100,000, and after seeing the care and process in their making, it seems like a bargain. After all, you can buy a Mercedes for $100,000, and it certainly is not handmade, maybe took weeks to assemble, and will likely last 5-10 years.

The men and women who work there, many for 20, 30, even 40 years, seem, on the surface, to be a motley team of blue collar workers from all over the world, with unique job titles like case maker, tone inspector, bellyman, wood technologist, and grand finisher. Most live in the neighborhood, and many have family who also work in the factory.

This is certainly a film that makes you wonder “Why didn’t anyone ever think to film this before.” And it is clear director Ben Niles shares a deep affinity for his subject. His attention to detail within each scene is as meticulous as each worker’s role in assembling the L1037. This labor of love might not be worth as much as a Steinway, but it is certainly worth the price of admission. Danielle Hughes
November 7, 2007