This accession consists of audiovisual materials created during the production of "People and Pianos: 300 Years," "Piano 300," and "Piano Grand!." All three productions
celebrated the 300th anniversary of the piano. The documentary, "People and Pianos: 300 Years," was filmed in various locations across Europe, the United States and in Japan,
and featured experts and craftsmen who traced the evolution of the piano, beginning with its inception in Italy to the digital and electronic technologies of tomorrow. Performances
demonstrated how the introduction of the piano influenced the development of music from classical to ragtime to jazz. The broadcast aired on PBS in December 2001. "Piano 300"
was a video production that accompanied the 2000 exhibition "Piano 300: Celebrating Three Centuries of People and Pianos." "Piano Grand!" was a 90 minute television performance
that complemented the "Piano 300" exhibition. It was hosted by Billy Joel and featured Dave Brubeck, Jerry Lee Lewis, and other renowned pianists. It was co-produced by Maryland
Public Television. Materials in this accession include original material, narration, pickups, protection masters, and various versions of the productions.
Restrictions:
Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing/listening copies are not currently available. Viewing/listening copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.
14.14 cu. ft. (10 record storage boxes) (4.14 non-standard size boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Compact discs
Video recordings
Videotapes
Audiotapes
Electronic records
Date:
1996-2001
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of materials documenting three Smithsonian Productions projects that celebrated the 300th anniversary of the piano: "People and Pianos: 300
Years," "Piano 300," and "Piano Grand!"
The documentary, "People and Pianos: 300 Years," was filmed in various locations across Europe, the United States and in Japan, and featured experts and craftsmen who traced
the evolution of the piano, beginning with its inception in Italy to the digital and electronic technologies of tomorrow. Performances demonstrated how the introduction of
the piano influenced the development of music from classical to ragtime to jazz. The broadcast aired on PBS in December 2001.
"Piano 300" was a video production that accompanied the 2000 exhibition "Piano 300: Celebrating Three Centuries of People and Pianos."
"Piano Grand!" was a 90 minute television performance that complimented the "Piano 300" exhibition. It was hosted by Billy Joel and featured Dave Brubeck, Jerry Lee Lewis,
and other renowned pianists. It was co-produced by Maryland Public Television.
Materials consist of video and audio elements, including digital betas, HDCAMS, beta SP, compact disks, MP3s, DATS, 1/2" digital audio mastering tapes, camera originals,
and edited masters. Some materials are in electronic format.
Restrictions:
Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing/listening copies are not currently available. Viewing/listening copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.
This accession consists of the Piano 300: Celebrating Three Centuries of People and Pianos website as it existed on March 26, 2013. The website originally accompanied
an exhibition of the same name that was produced by the National Museum of American History and displayed at the Smithsonian International Gallery from March 9, 2000 through
October 21, 2001. The website includes information about the exhibition, donors, related performances, and the television special Piano Grand! that was produced for
the Public Broadcasting Service. The website also includes a timeline of piano history and links to educational resources. The website had not been updated since the exhibition
and was taken down shortly after it was crawled. Materials are in electronic format.
1.5 cu. ft. (1 record storage box) (1 document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Date:
1987-2001
Descriptive Entry:
This accession includes records documenting the film, video, and radio production activities of Paul B. Johnson, Director. Materials include correspondence and memoranda;
production scripts, schedules, and tape logs; license agreements and releases; contracts; marketing information; budget summaries; and travel itineraries.
Productions documented in these records include: "If This House Could Talk...Historic Homes, Extraordinary Americans," "Guide to the Smithsonian" (Visitor Information and
Associates' Reception Center film), "Jazz Smithsonian," "Remembering Slavery," "Piano Grand!," and "Piano 300."
This accession includes records documenting the film, video, and radio production activities of Paul B. Johnson, Director. Material consists of correspondence and memoranda;
production proposals; information on the Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK)-Smithsonian Institution collaborative television project; budget summaries; information on the Smithsonian
Video Collection; contracts; release and rights forms; videotapes of Lawrence M. Small's installation as Secretary, and his first press conference; research articles, fundraising,
marketing, and awards information; production scripts; shooting schedules; and special events information.
Productions documented in these records include "The Jazz Singers," "Memphis: Cradle of Rock and Soul," "River of Song: A Musical Journey Down the Mississippi River," "River
of Song: Music Along the Mississippi," "The Buried Mirror," "The Global Environment: Are We Overacting," "Smithsonian World," "In Open Air: A Portrait of American Impressionists,"
"Yorktown," "The Work of Peace," "Piano 300," "Piano Grand!," "Here at the Smithsonian," "The Flying Machines," and "The Smithsonian Institution." NHK-SI productions include
"America of the Braves: The Dark and Bright Sides of the Frontier Spirit," "America of Presidents," and "American Inventions."
Topic:
Television -- Production and direction Search this
This accession consists of purchase orders, contracts, and agreements concerning intellecutal property rights pertaining to Smithsonian Productions productions.
3.9 cu. ft. (3 record storage boxes) (1 16x20 box) (4 oversize folders)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Floor plans
Drawings
Black-and-white photographs
Color photographs
Color negatives
Black-and-white negatives
Date:
1968-2002
Descriptive Entry:
This accession includes records documenting the film, video, and radio production activities of John P. Meehan, Audio-Visual Production Specialist; Jacquie Gales Webb,
Producer; and Paul B. Johnson, Director. Material consists of correspondence, memoranda, and notes; performer's licenses; production logs; contracts and releases; music cue
sheets; blueprints; interview transcripts; grant information; audio scripts; photographs and slides; drawings; budget summaries; meeting agenda; proposals; and information
on the Smithsonian Video Collection.
Productions documented in these records include "Piano Grand!," "Black Radio: Telling it Like it Was," "Beyond Category: The Musical Genius of Duke Ellington," "The Sawyer
and His Mill," "Creatures Great and Small," "Celebrating a Century: The 1876 Philadelphia Exhibition," "The Last Wheel Works," "Smithsonian Quest," "Smithsonian World," "Yorktown,"
"The First Ladies," "Engines of Change," "Beyond the Ocean, Beneath the Leaf," "River of Song: Music Along the Mississippi," "Piano 300," "Jazz Smithsonian," "What in the
World," "Science in American Life," "Jazz in Paris: 1914-1940," and "Smithsonian Minutes."
This accession consists of audiovisual materials created during the production of "People and Pianos: 300 Years" and "Piano Grand!," both of which celebrated the 300th
anniversary of the piano.
The documentary "People and Pianos: 300 Years" was filmed in various locations across Europe, the United States and in Japan, and featured experts and craftsmen who traced
the evolution of the piano, beginning with its inception in Italy to the digital and electronic technologies of tomorrow. Performances demonstrated how the introduction of
the piano influenced the development of music from classical to ragtime to jazz. The broadcast aired on PBS in December 2001.
"Piano Grand!" was a 90 minute television performance that complemented the 2000 exhibition "Piano 300: Celebrating Three Centuries of People and Pianos." It was hosted
by Billy Joel and featured Dave Brubeck, Jerry Lee Lewis, and other renowned pianists. It was co-produced by Maryland Public Television.
Materials in this accession include masters, clones, graphics, and various versions of the productions on videotape.
Restrictions:
Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing copies are not currently available. Viewing copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.
