My Experience with Tendens
" Recently, I was lucky enough to be able to work on the Tendens equipped with a 7/8th keyboard for about a month. Having had this experience, I can say that the Tendens deserves every pianist’s serious interest and attention:
In my opinion, Kaduk has really hit the nail on the head with his latest keyboard design: the keys are light and ultra responsive, inviting both a horizontal approach to the phrase, as well as a readiness of the key in very fast passages due to its quick rebound. I was truly inspired by this ergonomic and innovative approach of the key mechanics, and felt very much at home playing on it. To me, it was a world of difference compared to the heavy and sluggish keyboards one normally has to fight with when playing on (very) modern grands. I finally felt that I could make a real and unhampered connection with my instrument. Honestly, I don’t want to go back to anything else.
Speaking of ergonomics, the Tendens can be connected to any size keyboard. Also, their geometrics contain some noteworthy improvements: the keys are 2 cms longer than usual, meaning you will never have to compromise with the fallboard anymore. The width of the black keys is made according to each client’s thickness of the fingers so that there is no clash anymore while playing in between the black keys. The spacing of the keys is accurate, the key-width ratio CDE-FGAB is the same as on any acoustic. Additionally, even the key tops are attended to and contribute to a very satisfying haptic experience. It is as if one were playing on ivory, only without having to sacrifice the elephant.
One of the most striking and impressive sonic elements of the Tendens is the length of tone it can generate, without losing its bel canto quality. This really invites the pianist to listen very closely and time and colour each next note with the utmost precision and musicality. The basses have an impressive sonority, as any great concert grand should. Other than that, it possesses a wonderful speaking quality that suits the earlier repertoire well. What more does one want from a piano soundboard? The sound outcome is very sensitive to your touch, which means your control really needs to be on the spot. But eventually, it gives you more options which makes playing on it all the more interesting.
In short, I am truly baffled with this bold new step to improve the piano playing field for all pianists. Hats off to Thomas Kaduk, who with his revolutionary invention Tendens, will surely impress many more artists in the future! "