Thomas Heywood says underground concert celebrates Bendigo gold history
An underground piano concert held 61 metres beneath the surface in Bendigo’s Central Deborah Gold Mine marked the 175th anniversary of the region’s 1851 gold discovery, featuring performances by pianists Yasmin Rowe and Ian Munro before a live audience of 60 people, according to ABC News.
Transporting the 300-Kilogram Instrument Underground
Moving the heavy instrument into the historic tunnels required a coordinated effort by Joshua McPherson, his wife Jo, and their son Sam. ABC News reported that the 300kg piano, formerly owned by Bendigo Fine Music chair Thomas Heywood’s mother, who was a renowned concert pianist, was disassembled, wheeled on a trolley into a mine lift, and rolled along the rocky tunnels. Mr McPherson noted that preventing moisture damage from dripping ceiling water served as the primary logistical concern during the descent.
Once positioned inside the underground chamber, piano technician Nic Hamilton assumed responsibility for inspecting the instrument. ABC News noted that Mr Hamilton tuned the piano following its transit, observing that while the environment was humid, it takes some hours, perhaps even overnight to seep into the piano and cause any problems.
Acoustic Realities of Performance in a Gold Mine
Performers Yasmin Rowe and Ian Munro adapted their playing style to the unusual subterranean acoustics. ABC News reported that Ms Rowe described the space as visually striking, noting the millions-of-years-old rock wall directly behind the instrument. Mr Munro added that the venue presented a dry, reverberant acoustic, requiring pianists to utilize less pedal and adjust their execution in real time.
Organizers limited Friday’s attendance to 60 people who removed their hard hats upon reaching the concert room. Thomas Heywood conceived the project to commemorate the 1851 discovery of gold in central Victoria, stating to ABC News that the resulting riches made possible what would have taken 500 years in European history to be achieved in a mere 50 years to Federation.
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