Apologies to Klavier-Moor fans who have been waiting for me to post more. I’ve added two pages – one with some downloadable pdfs taken from Herbert Shead’s book, The History of the Emanuel Moor Double Keyboard Piano which is the Moor piano bible, certainly for enthusiasts in the UK. Herbert Shead died recently, but he was a driving force behind the Trust which owns several Moor pianos in the UK, including mine. You can find this page here.
Secondly there are galleries of images from the book, and also of my own Pleyel-Moor upright, here.
Note that book is still in copyright, and these extracts are published for private study purposes only, to further the cause of the Moor piano. I am delighted that after so many years people are interested. Please comment or email if you would like more.
For those who missed the original post: My secret weapon – the Moor double keyboard piano
I was once a personal friend of Herbert, and often visited his Bungalow home in Bexleyheath. In his study and teaching room stood his Moor. He once took his Moor to The Wigmore Hall, and a capable pianist played it. I was present at this performance. He was a very interesting person. I was about 25 and he encouraged my skills in other areas, by commissioning models or carpentry projects that grabbed his attention.
Good to know I am not alone in remembering him and his passion for the Moor piano.
My name is Bernard J Losh and studied the pianoforte under Herbert from about 1957 for about 8 or 9 years. My studying was extended to Trinity College of Music in London with him and I have ENOURMOUS wonderful memories of Herbert, from the Bechstein-Moore, I was there the first week it arrived, the Armstong Siddely Sapphire and canoeing down the Medway in one of his canoes. More to come if required and I can get my memory to work!
My name is John Whellams and I studied the pianoforte under Mr Shead (as I called him!) from the mid-fifties near the Archbishop’s Palace in Maidstone. I was only 10 years old when I started with him, but he made such an impact on me with his teaching style and challenges he would set me that I blossomed under his tutelage (which included having to play in public concerts) – and this motivation has been with me ever since. I remember travelling in his open-top Triumph Roadster to Crayford Town Hall for one concert – for a young schoolboy this was unforgettable. Regrettably, after 3 years we moved to the Midlands and I lost touch, but I have never forgotten him – since then I have had many opportunities to play publicly, and have taken up the Organ since moving to the West Country and play for church and wedding services giving me (and others, I trust) the pleasure of playing many classical pieces.
Whilst searching for more information on Mr Shead, I came across his work with the Moor Double Keyboard piano on this website which I found fascinating and to learn he only recently died. What a good life he must have lived. My one regret is that I’ve never had a photo of him, and I was wondering if any of your readers would be able to provide one. I can be contacted by email at john.whellams@gmail.com . Thankyou.
I think I may be able to find you a picture John – you will have to give me a couple of weeks to source it, but I’ll get back to you. Morwenna
I would love a photo of Herbert Shead if someone has one. He taught me at the Archbishop´s Palace in Maidstone……… I am thinking from 1956 for a couple of years. I was at Maidstone Grammer School.
I find it amazing to think that he only died recently. I am 74!