Can anyone confirm what I learned ages back, that pianos were painted black out of guilt for not having done anything about Mozart's death?
As he was buried with no honors, not even a hole with a name, someone woke up and proposed that pianos be painted black as a late tribute.
No pianos are painted black.
They are lacquered.
Concert grand pianos (9 feet long - although Bosendorfer has one 9'6") are black (I'm guessing) to blend in with the symphony orchestra whose members all dress quite formally in black and white. Uprights and smaller grands for home use are often stained with typical wood finishes like any other piece of furniture. Unfortunately many people consider the look of the piano before the sound or feel. There are some pretty wild looking acrylic see-through pianos around now. Anybody know what they sound like?
When I play them, terrible.
