Maene is a piano and harpsichord manufacturer based in Ruiselede, Belgium.
The company was founded by Albert Maene-Doutreloigne and Zulma Doutreloigne in 1938. It is currently under the direction of their son Chris Maene. [1] [2]
The company produces replicas of historical instruments [3] [4] and develops new instruments like the Barenboim piano, which contained no crossed strings. [5] [6] [7] [8]
From 2016 to 2022, Maene collaborated with architect Rafael Viñoly on a novel piano design with a curved ergonomic keyboard that could facilitate easier access to the lowest and highest notes simultaneously. [9] [10]
A foot longer than a typical concert grand and like the Barenboim piano hosting no crossed strings, the Maene-Viñoly piano was completed in 2022 and premiered at the Verbier Festival played by Kirill Gerstein. [11] In the months after Viñoly's death, the instrument was hosted at the Philadelphia Orchestra [12] and featured at a Carnegie Hall concert in November of 2023 where it was played by Jonathan Biss. [9]
The company also provides keyboard instruments for the Queen Elisabeth Competition. [13]
Maene is a piano and harpsichord manufacturer based in Ruiselede, Belgium.
The company was founded by Albert Maene-Doutreloigne and Zulma Doutreloigne in 1938. It is currently under the direction of their son Chris Maene. [1] [2]
The company produces replicas of historical instruments [3] [4] and develops new instruments like the Barenboim piano, which contained no crossed strings. [5] [6] [7] [8]
From 2016 to 2022, Maene collaborated with architect Rafael Viñoly on a novel piano design with a curved ergonomic keyboard that could facilitate easier access to the lowest and highest notes simultaneously. [9] [10]
A foot longer than a typical concert grand and like the Barenboim piano hosting no crossed strings, the Maene-Viñoly piano was completed in 2022 and premiered at the Verbier Festival played by Kirill Gerstein. [11] In the months after Viñoly's death, the instrument was hosted at the Philadelphia Orchestra [12] and featured at a Carnegie Hall concert in November of 2023 where it was played by Jonathan Biss. [9]
The company also provides keyboard instruments for the Queen Elisabeth Competition. [13]