The capabilities of some musical instruments may surprise even the most sophisticated listeners. The celesta's unusually gentle sound is compared to the chime of crystal bells.
Translated from Italian keyboard-percussion instrument "celesta" or "celesta" means "heavenly". Outwardly, it resembles a small piano, and is arranged according to its principle. Celesta is often included in orchestras.
Birth of a novelty
Touching the keys by the performer sets the hammers in motion. They hit tiny platforms of their metal fixed on wooden resonators. The prototype of an amazing novelty is the clavier, created in 1788 by Klagget.
The Frenchman Moustel perfected the invention of the Englishman, calling modernization Dulsiton. The son of the master of Auguste, tuning forks replaced by plates. In 1866, Mustel Jr. received a patent for his version of the instrument, called the celesta.
Two years later, the novelty first sounded in the symphony orchestra. Schossen used the celesta to perform a composition on the theme of Shakespeare's Storm. In Paris, the crystal sound struck Tchaikovsky.
Confession
It impressed the composer so much that he decided to use the abilities of the French invention in his ballad Voivode and the New Year's ballet The Nutcracker to simulate the sound of water droplets flying from a fountain in the solo of the Dragee fairy.
Gustav Mahler involved the celesta in the performance of "Songs of the Earth", several symphonies. A special flavor is created by the instrument in the Canvas Suite of the Planet. Heavenly bells sound in the operas of Shreker, Glass, Britten, Shostakovich's symphonies.
I could not ignore the promising new items and Bartok. Successfully "heavenly" music replaced the glass harmonica, for which parts were created by composers of the "golden age". The notes for her are written an octave lower than the actual sound.
In the twenties of the last century, celesta came to jazz music. It was first used by Carmichael and Hines. Waller played the instrument with one hand, and with the other at the same time played the piano part.
Popularity growth
The melodic chime of bells is heard in the works of Monk, Tyner, Hancock, Ellington, Tatum, Peterson and Lewis. Currently, she is usually involved in chamber music ensembles, and pop and rock groups include in her works the parties for her. More and more composers compose solo parts for an amazing instrument.
The advantage of a wonderful invention is that he needs only one tuning at the request of the musician. Additional ones, like pianos or pianos, are not needed.
Early celestas were equipped with a pedal in the middle of the body to improve the sound volume. The production was conducted by the inventor's company in France, as well as Morlai's company in England and Broz in the USA. Production ceased several decades ago.
