Hi Ned, A Celeste is produced by having 2 differently tuned pipes(in a pipe organ) reeds(in a reed organ/harmonium). One set is tuned just slightly flat to achieve the wavering sound...it would be like tuning one of the stings on a piano note just slightly flat and you would achieve the same thing basically. As far as their age, I believe that they go back to the 17th century in very early pipe organs (but I could be wrong and they "came into style" later). Also if you have ever heard a Hammond or Lowery electric organ, the speakers have a "Leslie" which spins a drum with baffles in front of the speaker and creates a wavering effect. In some reed organs, a piece of cardboard on a rotating shaft spun in front of the reeds and created the same type of wavering. Hope this helps...at least maybe a bit. :) Steven Ned Swift wrote: > Hi list > > Thanks for the input on the strange instrument I saw Beck playing on Austin > City Limit. You narrowed it down to either a harmonium or a melodian. With > those two options I was able to search the web and find the answer. Typing > in "strange keyboard thingy" produced no results on a search. Nor did > "strange insrument". However, knowing that it could be a melodian or > harmonium helped. I typed in Beck Harmonium and the web lit up like New > Years at Time Square. Everyone was talking about Beck playing the Harmonium > on the floor. Looked up harmonium and found a picture of one like he > played. For about $1,000 I could own one too. "Not!!" But, I did find it > interesting. The other one that troubles me is the Celeste. I know what > they sound like but I don't know what they are. How old are they and how do > they produce the sound? > > Ned Swift > Lowell, MI > > _________________________________________________________________ > MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE* > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus > > _______________________________________________ > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives -- "Whilst looking to the future, do not forget the glories of the past." F.O.P.S.
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