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Jane Austen and the Pianoforte

© Viola Ashford

"I certainly have not the talent which some people possess," said Darcy, "of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done." "My fingers," said Elizabeth, "do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner which I see so many women's do. They have not the same force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault -- because I would not take the trouble of practicing. It is not that I do not believe my fingers as capable as any other woman's of superior execution." Jane Austen and the Pianoforte

Conversation overheard at the Accademia Gallery in Florence:

"My grandmother plays the pianoforte."

"Does she? How wonderful!"

This conversation took place between two teenage girls who gave the impression that playing the piano is something only grandmothers would do. The piano may not be as popular as it was in Jane Austen's day but it is still a much-loved instrument and well worth learning.

In Jane Austen's time a young woman was not considered accomplished unless she could play the piano and sing. She was expected to be able to perform her musical skills in front of others.

The piano plays a large part in Jane Austen's novels. Elizabeth, the famous heroine of Pride and Prejudice is told by Lady Catherine de Burgh that she could play well if she would only practice and she admits to Mr. Darcy that she won't practice enough. Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility adores her piano. Jane Fairfax in Emma also loves playing the piano and her musical skills are widely admired.

It seems strange that Elizabeth, everyone's favorite heroine, doesn't like the piano enough to practice regularly. Jane Austen, like Marianne, loved playing the piano and got up early every day so that she could practice before breakfast. When she moved to Bath she was forced to sell her piano and this upset her very much. She was pleased to be able to hire one at Southampton and when she made the final move to Chawton Cottage she was delighted to learn that there would be a piano there.

Was she any good? Her niece, Anna, liked to hear her play and Jane had a very good teacher. She started learning to play at nine, considered a late age now, at the Abbey School at Reading. Later she was taught by Dr.George Chard, the assistant organist of Winchester Cathedral. He later became the Master of Music at Winchester College. Jane took lessons until she was 21. She copied a collection of her favorite sheet music by hand painstakingly and very neatly, indexing it all. The original is at Chawton.