Bernard Hill wrote: >According to my Guinness book of records (1990) Rachmaninov could span a >12th and with the left hand play a chord > >C Eb G C G > >I've seen a picture of that somewhere. Stride composer & pianist Charles Luckeyth "Luckey" Roberts (1887-1968) could play 12ths in BOTH hands. In a 1941 Piano Concerto premiered at Town Hall in New York, the closing passage called for thundering chords played with 12ths in both hands. I'd have to dig for it, but a program notes exists describing this passage. Sadly, it does not appear that the Concerto itself has survived. Few recordings exist of Roberts, who is better known (if at all) for pieces like "Junk Man Rag" and "Moonlight Cocktail" than he is for his classical compostions. However his amazing dexterity is evident on many on the records which do survive; and that alone may be enough put him over the top for having the largest hands in Pianism, despite what Guinness says. BTW, Luckey's hands were larger than HE was- he stood 5'1" and weighed 300 lbs. Uncle Dave Lewis [log in to unmask]