This is a Rudolph Wurlitzer piano. The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, more commonly referred to as “Wurlitzer”, was established in 1856, with the intention of manufacturing stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass, and many other types of instruments. Over the years, they decided to produce only pianos, organs, and jukeboxes. The company continued doing so until 1988, when Gibson Guitars purchased it. This particular instrument happened to be purchased while the company was still in existence in 1976.

 This piano, like any other instrument, was manufactured with the intention of creating a pleasingly harmonious sound. Each key was designed to make a hammer hit a string, and each string was designed to vibrate in such a way as to create an invigorating sound. It was constructed in the hopes that someone, either beginner or expert, would place their fingers on the keys in a pattern, a rhythm, to create an arrangement of tones. Its intended purpose was to make music.

 For many years, this object did just that. My grandmother originally purchased it because my aunt was taking piano lessons and wanted to be able to practice at home. So, its first few years were dedicated to helping a young girl improve her music-making abilities. Throughout this time, my grandmother also gave it a function that it was not originally intended for. She used the flat wooden surface on top as a place to display her statue of the Virgin Mary. And from that day on, this piano was not just an outlet for music, but was also aesthetic. For many more years, it continued to serve its dual function as items were displayed on top and other children of the household began learning to play music.

Eventually, my grandmother sold her house and no longer had room for the large music box. No one being willing to let the instrument go, my mother took it and it found a new home in our living room. Although my brother took lessons for a few years, no one ever really pursued the art of playing piano. In this new home, the piano continued to serve a function by acting as a place for other objects to be displayed. It has held family photos, Christmas decorations, and other trinkets. Today, it ironically displays a new sound system, which produces high quality sound waves to evoke the feelings of a live performance.

 In my home, this instrument was hardly played with the intention of making music, it has acted as somewhat of a toy for the children growing up around it. As a child, I would play silly songs such as “Chopsticks” or “Mary Had a Little Lamb”. It would attract the attention of my friends, who would want to touch it; to feel the keys depress so that a sound could rise out. And now, my nephew of nearly three years enjoys smashing against the keys and swaying as if he were producing the grandest symphony.

I am somewhat sad to admit that this piano is soon to be a memory in my home. The lack of moisture and excessive heat that the wood-burning stove creates is a very poor environment for this thirty-seven year old wooden music box. It never stays in tune, and some of its keys have gone dead. It requires constant maintenance and has become more of a burden than a pleasure. However, it is to be donated to an organization that might be able to take better care of it, and use it for its intended purpose. Perhaps in the future, young children or elderly folk will have the opportunity to create music that they otherwise would have been unable to do. I believe this music-making object would be proud to have served so many functions, and end its days doing what it was always meant to do.