What is meaning of flugelbauer?

Answer 1

"Flügelbauer" is a German word, and is used most commonly in the piano industry. Flügelbauer means "Grand Piano Maker" or "Grand Piano Builder".

Flügel is the term for a "grand piano" in German. Bauer is the term for "maker" or "builder" in German when used in this context. Klavier is the term for "vertical or upright piano" in German.

A "Flügelbauer" is the person in a piano factory or piano assembly facility that oversees Grand Piano Making, the title similar to what would be a 'foreman' in other manufacturing businesses. If a factory makes vertical pianos ("upright" pianos) they will have a: "Klavierbauer", or, "Vertical Piano Maker" in the same job.

Per Webster Online: 'foreman' (1): a chief and often specially trained worker who works with and usually leads a gang or crew (2): a person in charge of a group of workers, a particular operation, or a section of a plant.

The Flügelbauer and the Klavierbauer in a factory (example, see: Steingraeber & Sohn) are very important and respected positions. Both are considered high-level jobs, and may also include considerable 'hands-on' time depending on the size & output of a factory.

The literal translation for 'flügel' is "WING" as in the wing of a bird. Grand pianos have a top lid that resembles a wing, so a grand piano is a 'Flügel'!!

The literal translation for 'bauer' is "FARMER" as in: One who grows something. Or, one who 'creates' and therefore is a 'MAKER' or 'BUILDER' of that something!! SIMPLE, right?

A KLAVIER is just a "regular" (not a Grand type) piano, which most of us view as an upright piano. Outside of Europe, Klavier is a term most often used now describing early or historic piano-forte keyboards pre-dating the modern day piano.