Helsinki 1967 Small Upright Piano

Upright piano sample instrument created by Mikko Patama
Kontakt 7 full version or above
DecentSampler
EXS24

The sampled upright piano was originally built in Nurmijärvi, Finland in 1967. The name “Helsinki 1967″ refers to the text inside the piano: Helsinki No 9962 (serial number). Although the factory was originally located in Helsinki, it moved to Nurmijärvi in 1951; thus it is very likely that this particular piano was not actually built in Helsinki.

My grandparents bought the piano from a shop then called Piano Jylhä (nowadays Soitin Jylhä). My mother started piano lessons the same year but ended up quitting six years later.
One of my very first conscious memories was when the piano was moved to my childhood home in 1994. It was located there until around 2012. There wasn’t enough room in my apartment for an acoustic piano back then, so the piano was borrowed to a local jazz musician who kept it in tune for practising.
In summer 2023 the piano was moved to my rehearsal space and that’s where this sample library was recorded.

Equipment:
– A matched pair of sE7 cardioid SDCs in XY configuration in front of open lid for clarity and stereo image.
– JZ BH-2 LDC behind the piano for body.

(Kontakt only) Baldwin IR sample from www.musiciswigglyair.com (for sustain pedal resonance).

(DecentSampler only) The included two impulse response files (”Small Concert Hall 1 & 2” recorded at West Helsinki Music Institute in 2025 by Mikko Patama.