If a candelabra is too formal for you, but you still need light to see your piano keys and sheet music, you might need a piano lamp. A piano lamp is aesthetically pleasing, but its primary purpose is to provide illumination to the piano keys and sheet music when there is insufficient lighting.
A piano lamp can be a tall vertical lamp that sits next to the piano, but most people think of the most popular style, which is the one that sits on top of the piano. It can be ornate or plain, but all piano lamps are hooded to protect the pianist from direct glare. A piano lamp can be found in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and materials. For a piano lamp, brass, chrome, and other enameled metals are all popular choices.
The shelf piano lamp is typically adjustable, and many come with a weighted base for added stability. To add beauty as well as function, the base could be made of a high-quality material like marble. A counter-weighted arm on a piano lamp is a useful feature that keeps the lamp from becoming top heavy regardless of its position.
Piano lamps can be powered electricity or batteries, and some even clip onto the sheet music. One or two 40-watt or less light bulbs are typically used in an electric piano lamp.
These lamps are available at home furnishing stores, music stores, and online. A piano lamp can be purchased for as little as $50 (US dollars) or as much as hundreds of dollars.
Over time, the piano lamp has supplanted the practice of using a candle.
During a piano recital, candles provide light and ambiance. Today’s piano lamps may not have the same glowing effect as the originals, but they can still be quite lovely and are far safer.