Music at the White House is a fascinating new book detailing the various musical events that have taken place at the White House over the past 200 years. It also discusses the musical interests of the presidents and their families. The book was first published in 1986, and this new edition brings the work right up to date (to include the Trump administration).
Pianos play an integral part in the history of music at the White House. Most presidents had a piano of their own, for instance…
- George Washington (1st President) had a square piano made by Schoene & Vinsen (London, 1793-1806)
- Thomas Jefferson (3rd) had a square piano made by Astor & Co. (London 1799-1815)
- James Buchanan (15th) was the first to have a grand piano, a Chickering (Boston, 1823-1983)
- Abraham Lincoln (16th) had both a Chickering square and upright
- Warren G Harding (29th) had an electric player piano made by A.B. Chase (Norwalk, Ohio 1875-1985)
- John F Kennedy (35th) had an Ivers & Pond (1880-1983) grand piano.
In fact with the main exception of George W. Bush and Gerald Ford, virtually all the American presidents owned a piano, or a harpsichord.
The First White House Piano
However, the president’s own piano is not “the White House piano”. This tradition was formalised in 1903 when Steinway, to celebrate their 50th anniversary and as a thanksgiving to the American people, presented Theodore Roosevelt with a beautiful art-case grand.
Steinway art-case grand piano #100,000 – the first White House piano. Photo: Steinway & Sons
This piano’s casework incorporates the seals of the original 13 states, and the painting on the lid depicts America welcoming the nine Muses. Each leg of the instrument features an American eagle – these appear to be supporting the instrument. The piano cost $20,000 to produce and was given the serial number 100,000 (although Steinway had been producing instruments with six-figure serial numbers since 1901). This instrument became the first White House piano and was kept in the East Room. It is now in the Smithsonian Institute.
The Second White House Piano
The second White House Steinway piano in the East Room. Photo: White House Historical Association © 1987
In 1938 a second Steinway replaced the original White House piano. The new “State Piano” was given the serial number 300,000, and was presented to Franklin D Roosevelt. It was designed by Eric Gugler, and has a far simpler styling. It depicts the “five musical forms indigenous to America”. These are:
- a New England barn dance
- a lone cowboy playing his guitar
- the Virginia reel
- two black field hands, one clapping and one dancing
- an Indian ceremonial dance.
The legs are again American eagles, carved from mahogany and then gilded. The instrument was restored in 1979 and is usually placed in the sumptuous Entrance Hall.
More “standard” pianos can be found within the White House – primarily upstairs in the residential rooms and the Central Hall. Most are made by Baldwin (Harry S. Truman, probably the most accomplished presidential pianist, favoured this brand). Once whilst Truman’s daughter Margaret was playing the piano in her second floor sitting room, it is said the floor gave way and the piano’s leg subsequently appeared through a first floor ceiling. This led to a major structural survey and rennovation of the entire White House.
Richard Nixon with Duke Ellington in the East Room. Photo: Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum/NARA
The East Room is the musical hub of the White House, it is here that countless musical performances and interludes have taken place. Music at the White House is a celebration of all these amazing, historical events.
The book is written by Elise Kirk and produced by the White House Historical Association. There are over 400 fascinating images that include musical programs, period photographs dating back to the Lincoln administration, and newly commissioned photography.
The publication is casebound and supplied with a dust jacked. It consists of 424 pages and can be ordered from whitehousehistory.org, or by calling toll-free 1-800-555-2451 (USA only). Price: $75.00 plus shipping. Music at the White House would make someone a very nice Christmas present indeed.
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Where is the 1938 piano? It was removed from the East Wing in Feb 2019. No one seems to know where it went.
The Schomacker company of Philadelphia furnished two grands to the White House, one that was used during the administrations of Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson which replaced James Buchanan’s Chickering (the Schomacker was delivered in 1862 – this was the instrument Teresa Carreño played when she performed for Lincoln at age 9 in 1863) which was replaced by another used during the Grant administration (delivered in 1868). These are mentioned on page 7 of the 1876 Schomacker catalogue, a copy of which is on the Antique Piano Shop’s website ( https://antiquepianoshop.com/online-museum/schomacker/ ) I don’t know when the later Schomacker was removed, but it might have been some time as their instruments were extremely well built and stylish. Another grand may have been brought in during Chester A. Arthur’s administration as he had the White House redecorated, but I believe at least Lincoln’s Chickering upright (which may have come into the White House with Buchanan) remained for a while as there is an engraving of Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz playing an upright piano for the family of Rutherford B. Hayes.
Incidentally, in my opinion the 1938 Steinway “State Piano” is one of the very ugliest pianos ever made. It is possible it was removed in 2019 for refurbishment by Steinway and because of the pandemic has not yet been returned. I doubt it has been disposed of, because, despite its hideous case, it is one of the most famous (and certainly recognizable) pianos in the US.
My wife has a H C Bay baby grand that has the presidential seal in it. We can’t find the serial number and know nothing about its history. Any thoughts where to search?