The Ultimate Concert Grand- Reviewing Mason & Hamlin VX Series Model CC 9'4-.

Hey, hey, I'm Charles Stepanek, and we are about to look at the ultimate concert grand, the Mason & Hamlin VX Series Model CC. Welcome to the Mason & Hamlin Factory Showroom in Haverhill, Massachusetts. This instrument is the ultimate expression of Mason & Hamlin and is the modern magnum opus of the Mason & Hamlin Company. Thunderous bass, lush and resonant tenor, and crystal clear bell-like treble are the hallmarks of this exceptional instrument. It's built to deliver unmatched power and depth, but also a level of finesse that gives the performer complete control. The action and keyboard in this instrument are specially designed and regulated Wessel nickel and gross composite action. The touch and feel of a Mason & Hamlin piano is responsive to the pianist's most subtle nuances, allowing ultimate control, expression, and the highest level of playability possible. And being made of composite materials, the action does not react to humidity or temperature, so the feel of your piano stays consistent in all conditions. Let's get into some musical examples, and speaking of the action, when I first sat down to try this piano out, one excerpt that I knew I had to try was a bit of the outer section of Chopin's Nocturne Op. 27 No. 1. On many instruments, controlling the extremely quiet and delicate left-hand arpeggiation in this piece can be a difficult task, and to me it's one of the ultimate tests in playability and control that an instrument has to offer. So I'm going to play the final page of this Nocturne, and I'm going to play a few moments whisper quietly, even down in the lowest register of the instrument. And it's maybe not the most dramatic sound, or you might even think maybe not even the most memorable, but when I'm on the bench and I can take a 9'4 instrument down further than pianissimo, it takes my breath away as a pianist. Let's take a listen to an excerpt from my arrangement of the theme from Beauty and the Beast. I'm playing this same excerpt on each of the models here at the showroom, so you can have a very direct comparison of the same notes and the same musical intention, but hear how each Mason & Hamlin grand gives its own character to the music. We've heard some classical repertoire and also a little Disney. Let's stick with that second theme, but we're going to move to my arrangement of Pure Imagination. My own album version and YouTube recordings of this arrangement were made on a Mason & Hamlin BB, so I really wanted to hear this piece on the model CC. When I arrange music, I think in a very orchestral way, so notes that I write may imitate string instruments in some lines, horns and brass in others, and that sort of writing really lets this Mason & Hamlin model CC shine. It's capable of so many orchestral colors. Speaking of orchestral instruments, there are two moments in this excerpt that mimic bells in the composition, and you can listen out for those. And right during those moments, if you're not too distracted by the beautiful bell tone, if you listen beneath that, you'll hear that the harmonies just continue to sustain and resonate with so much presence. When I first played those measures on this instrument, I actually said wow out loud because the sustain is so long. When it comes to choosing a concert grand, the competition is fierce and there are many wonderful pianos to choose from, but the Mason & Hamlin VX model CC is truly a special instrument. When Mason & Hamlin use words like ultimate and most subtle nuances and the highest level of playability possible, those aren't just statements to get you interested in this piano. They are absolutely true. If you haven't played a Mason & Hamlin VX model CC, you need to. And go in with your expectations very high because no matter how high they are, I am positive that they will be exceeded. If you want to hear this piano really put through its paces, I also recorded two full pieces on it, Rachmaninoff's Elegy Op. 3 No. 1 and also my own arrangement of the Meditation from Thaïs. Links to those are down below in the description as well as a link to find the closest Mason & Hamlin dealer to you. Thanks for visiting Mason & Hamlin on YouTube and I'll see you around in another video. I'm Charles Stepanek and thanks for joining me on this tour of the Mason & Hamlin factory showroom. I've been a Mason & Hamlin artist since 2016. I have over 40 pieces available on Pianodisc. I currently run two YouTube channels, one under my own name where I post performances of my original music and arrangements of music from film, music theater, and more. And my other channel is called Pianist Academy where I teach piano related concepts for all levels from beginners all the way through to coaching other performing professionals. If you'd like to hear my music, you can find it on your favorite streaming platform and all of my arrangements and originals, including some of those that you may have heard in this video, are also available in sheet music for you to play yourself. Thanks again for watching!