Museum Speelklok Collectie

Sidebar content	Main content
Actions	Details Remove from selection Add to selection Image(s) TitleSelf-playing Roller Accordion ‘Tanzbär’ Creator A. Zuleger PlaceLeipzig (Germany) Year ca. 1920 Object number0019 Object categorymechanical resounding reed instruments Object namemechanical accordeon, reed instrument with roll DescriptionThis accordion works with a perforated roller. The basic models have two reeds for each note: one to blow air out, and one to suck air in. The more elaborate models have double the number of reeds for each action. Pulling and pushing operate the mechanism and wind supply, just like an ordinary accordion. Pressing a lever with a spring with the left hand also triggers the roller mechanism with the music programme. Accompanying textsThe keyboard has 28 keys, and the sound is produced by the vibration of free reeds. Although it is automated, it is still quite complicated to play a Tanzbär, because you must perform several actions at once. The lever must be pressed to initiate the music programme and at the same time, just like an ordinary accordion, a Tanzbär has to be pulled in and out correctly to achieve a regular supply of air. It should also be remembered that changing direction (pushing in or pulling out the instrument, blowing out or sucking in air) can only take place during a short pause in the music, and preferably at the end of a measure. If done incorrectly, the player risks running out of air supply in the middle of a chord. This not only sounds horrible, but is obviously quite embarrassing. On the other hand, it’s possible to create the illusion of a live performance when all goes well. This type of instrument was produced in two different styles, a Concertina and a Bandoneon. They seem to have been mostly made in Germany between about 1910 and 1930 by Alfred Zuleger in Germany (Leipzig). They also sold well as far afield as America. It is interesting to note that modern versions are still made by the firm Hofbauer (also from Germany), using a digital music programme (via a Micro-Box computer system with a chip) and a battery for propulsion. Dimensions geheel height: 28.5 cm geheel width: 45 cm geheel depth: 26 cm Keywordsprogrammadrager: roll geluidsbron: resounding reeds aandrijving: muscle power

Image(s)

TitleSelf-playing Roller Accordion ‘Tanzbär’

Creator A. Zuleger

PlaceLeipzig (Germany)

Year ca. 1920

Object number0019

Object categorymechanical resounding reed instruments

Object namemechanical accordeon, reed instrument with roll

DescriptionThis accordion works with a perforated roller. The basic models have two reeds for each note: one to blow air out, and one to suck air in. The more elaborate models have double the number of reeds for each action. Pulling and pushing operate the mechanism and wind supply, just like an ordinary accordion. Pressing a lever with a spring with the left hand also triggers the roller mechanism with the music programme.

Accompanying textsThe keyboard has 28 keys, and the sound is produced by the vibration of free reeds. Although it is automated, it is still quite complicated to play a Tanzbär, because you must perform several actions at once. The lever must be pressed to initiate the music programme and at the same time, just like an ordinary accordion, a Tanzbär has to be pulled in and out correctly to achieve a regular supply of air. It should also be remembered that changing direction (pushing in or pulling out the instrument, blowing out or sucking in air) can only take place during a short pause in the music, and preferably at the end of a measure. If done incorrectly, the player risks running out of air supply in the middle of a chord. This not only sounds horrible, but is obviously quite embarrassing. On the other hand, it’s possible to create the illusion of a live performance when all goes well.

This type of instrument was produced in two different styles, a Concertina and a Bandoneon. They seem to have been mostly made in Germany between about 1910 and 1930 by Alfred Zuleger in Germany (Leipzig). They also sold well as far afield as America. It is interesting to note that modern versions are still made by the firm Hofbauer (also from Germany), using a digital music programme (via a Micro-Box computer system with a chip) and a battery for propulsion.

Dimensions

geheel height: 28.5 cm
geheel width: 45 cm
geheel depth: 26 cm

Keywordsprogrammadrager: roll
geluidsbron: resounding reeds
aandrijving: muscle power

Details