Shiny ebony Steinway grand pianos are ubiquitous in concert halls around the globe. They evoke a European image, but that is misleading. Steinway pianos were born and bred in New York City by Henry Steinway and his sons, emigres from Germany during the revolutions of 1848 that swept Europe and struck particularly hard in the German nation-states. Henry Steinway emigrated to the U.S. and formed Steinway & Sons. Largely through the innovative efforts of Henry Jr., Steinway introduced pianos unlike any ever seen before. One reporter gushed about the new pianos having a "scale perfectly equal and singularly melodious throughout its entire range." And when Steinway brought out its redesigned grand piano with an extended range of several octaves and a key hammer design for touch and dynamics, it became an instant sensation and placed Steinway as the standard bearer for excellence in the music world. The Steinway story goes beyond pianos. The family built Steinway Hall to give New York a venue for literature and music. And Henry's sons achieved success in other fields from the military to automobiles. Yet their success and prosperity did not shield them from tragedy. Award-winning author Daniel Alef tells their fascinating tale of achievements and their mortality. [1,740-word Titans of Fortune article]
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