For those of you piqued by the Musée des Arts et Metiers post (last Monday), I have a lucky bag of oddities from the museum which I shall sneak into the blog from time to time.
Here's the first.
So perfectly Parisian: exquisite yet totally bonkers.
Speedway, the writing reads "Fait par Tobie Schmidt pour Mr. Charles en 1819." It didn't have an explanatory label beside it so that's all we know.
Robyn, I think Mr. Charles might well have been a child and this lovely little instrument his first keyboard. It looks like the sound is made by stopping and plucking the single wire on the soundboard; it probably sounded a little like a thumb piano. Isn't it gorgeous, though?
Dive, if the little wire was plucked, rather than hit by a hammer, would that make it a harpsichord?
I looked up Charles Tobias Schmidt. It seems he was a German harpsichord maker who, along with others, is credited with making the prototype of the first guillotine. That little box has suddenly lost its charm. Could that also provide an explanation/connection for the instrument being on display in that museum?
Cool research, Speedway. Arts et Metiers is the science museum; the gory Revolutionary stuff is over at Carnavalet. The box still retains its charm for me, but then I'm all for revolutions and chopping the heads off the aristocracy. Hee hee.
At least we can be sure that the prototype guillotine was beautifully made. If you're going to have your head cut off you wouldn't want a sloppy job. A harpsichord maker's skills would be reassuring.
If I read correctly, that's why Guillotin chose him -- for his precision and craftsmanship. I agree, one wouldn't want a sloppy job, especially as how, when the deed is done, the head is aware it's been chopped off. Euuw!
It's called a "monochord," and the only info about it was in the blog above: "divides a string to produce different intervals/pitches, proving the physical principals upon which all music is based."
I found other blogs with monochords, but none like this one.
SUPERcool research, Speedway! That's a nice piece. Some of those photos are of things I have ready to post later. If ever you need a second career, you'd make an ace researcher.
That's a fascinating little keyboard! Interesting history, too. I look at it and I just want to play it, see how it sounds, watch the mechanism work as the keys are pushed. Years ago, my grandparents had an old player piano. The "player" part didn't work anymore, but it was marvelous to open the piano and press the keys and watch the hammers, and strum the wires.
25 comments:
Aw, a little tiny piano, made to match my little, tiny vocal range.
Hee hee. Mine, too.
I rather pictured Schrœder playing this when he grows up.
Was this the MP3 of its time, meant for portable, take anywhere music?
And what is the notation in ink across the top?
I want that! What's it called, and what the heck could it have possibly been used for?
Speedway, the writing reads "Fait par Tobie Schmidt pour Mr. Charles en 1819." It didn't have an explanatory label beside it so that's all we know.
Robyn, I think Mr. Charles might well have been a child and this lovely little instrument his first keyboard.
It looks like the sound is made by stopping and plucking the single wire on the soundboard; it probably sounded a little like a thumb piano.
Isn't it gorgeous, though?
Dive, if the little wire was plucked, rather than hit by a hammer, would that make it a harpsichord?
I looked up Charles Tobias Schmidt. It seems he was a German harpsichord maker who, along with others, is credited with making the prototype of the first guillotine. That little box has suddenly lost its charm. Could that also provide an explanation/connection for the instrument being on display in that museum?
Cool research, Speedway.
Arts et Metiers is the science museum; the gory Revolutionary stuff is over at Carnavalet.
The box still retains its charm for me, but then I'm all for revolutions and chopping the heads off the aristocracy. Hee hee.
Oops! Just chop off "Charles" then and leave "Tobias Schmidt," who was commissioned by Guillotin to make the prototype of the first guillotine.
At least we can be sure that the prototype guillotine was beautifully made. If you're going to have your head cut off you wouldn't want a sloppy job. A harpsichord maker's skills would be reassuring.
If I read correctly, that's why Guillotin chose him -- for his precision and craftsmanship. I agree, one wouldn't want a sloppy job, especially as how, when the deed is done, the head is aware it's been chopped off. Euuw!
Oh, Mr. Charles. I thought it looked more like something Schroeder plays.
Wow! I wish I had gotten here before all the barfy talk of chopped heads thinking "wow, I've just been chopped - oh well"
This is a fascinating little piece and I know that there is much to see in this interesting museum. Merci!
Bises,
Genie
Speedway, that's icky. Hee hee.
Robyn, the little keyboard was contemporary with Beethoven so it would be entirely appropriate for Schrœder to play one just like it.
Genie, it's a delightful place, filled with strange little wonders like this one.
And no guillotines.
Trying to see how it works and failing. Is it limited to a single note at a time and within a single octave? Beautifully uncomplicated. Is it art?
Looked again and realised it's more than an octave. But only a bit.
I just think it is a dinky little sweet piano for little hands... yuk to all the horrrible stuff ha ha..but then I am old..
A little tricky if you're trying to play Chopin's first piano concerto, Pea, but beautifully uncomplicated as you say.
Mum, you know we can't keep away from the horrible stuff on my blog. Hee hee.
I found it at
http://panda-a-paris.blogspot.com/2010/05/musee-des-arts-et-metiers.html
It's called a "monochord," and the only info about it was in the blog above: "divides a string to produce different intervals/pitches, proving the physical principals upon which all music is based."
I found other blogs with monochords, but none like this one.
SUPERcool research, Speedway!
That's a nice piece. Some of those photos are of things I have ready to post later.
If ever you need a second career, you'd make an ace researcher.
Thanks, Dive. I just got, you know, curious.
Gives a whole new meaning to the term "da capo"!
It needs a little Beethoven bust!
(I see I have a little catching up to do. My first week of school is a little chaotic).
That's a fascinating little keyboard! Interesting history, too. I look at it and I just want to play it, see how it sounds, watch the mechanism work as the keys are pushed.
Years ago, my grandparents had an old player piano. The "player" part didn't work anymore, but it was marvelous to open the piano and press the keys and watch the hammers, and strum the wires.
Curious is good, Speedway.
Hee hee, Lucio!
You're right, Neetzy, it would be the perfect accompaniment.
Good luck with the new school year. I know how chaotic that gets.
Ms.M, I share your fascination with piano mechanics. For such a seemingly simple instrument they are insanely complex machines.
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