Details
Image(s)
TitleRoll-Playing Orchestrion, ‘Phonoliszt Violina, Model B'
CreatorLudwig Hupfeld A.-G. (orchestrionbouwer)
PlaceLeipzig (Germany)
Year 1925
Object number0087
Object categorymechanical hammered string instruments, orchestrions
Object nameorchestrion with strings, orchestrion with roll
DescriptionThree violins are played by a rotating, circular metal bow, strung with horsehair. One string of each violin is touched by this bow as the violin moves forward. Mechanical keys on the strings provide the touch to activate the correct musical notes. The system is pneumatically driven. The rotation speed of the bow is variable and has several steps: from slow to fast. This will cause the violin to play softer or louder. There is also a vibrato mechanism and a sourdine effect (a damping effect applicable to stringed instruments). The piano has three modes: soft, medium loud, and loud, and a crescendo can be made from one mode to another. The music roll also contains commands for stopping or rewinding the roll.
Accompanying textsThe left violin has D as its base note and has a range from D to C. The middle violin has A as its base note and has a range from A to G and the right violin has E as its base note with a range from E to the next octave of G. A complicated system ensures that in the roll only 1 hole suffices for 2 notes, with a changeover switch having to be used for the other note each time. The programme roll contains 77 holes.
Around 1900, the orchestrion (the "mechanical orchestra") became very popular as a musical instrument. Of course, this meant stiff competition between the producing firms. Launching special and sensational models was therefore very important. Until then, imitating violin sounds was done by building organ pipes with a similar timbre into orchestrions. Actually making a real violin play mechanically, however, was a big challenge with many technical problems. But in 1907, Hupfeld bought the rights to the idea of the Violina from the Bajde brothers from Schischka. They had managed to turn three violins and a spinning violin bow into a device that actually sounded like a real violinist. After Hupfeld got hold of the rights, the prototype was combined with his self-playing piano: the Phonoliszt. The new instrument was therefore called the Phonoliszt-Violina. It was first advertised in 1909 in the leading 'Zeitschrift fur Instrumentenbau'. Then, in 1910, the Phonoliszt-Violina was introduced at the World Fair in Brussels, where it received a medal. To purchase one yourself, you had to be affluent. In fact, the instrument cost 8000 Marks; a fortune at this time. On 5 April 1912, the famous violinist Ephram Zimbalist remarked, "Certainly the Phonoliszt Violina is the eighth wonder and marvel of our time". Some 10,000 Hupfeld Violinas were built between 1908 and the late 1920s. They could be seen in restaurants and hotels, sometimes in people's homes, and there were models that served as musical accompaniments in silent films at the cinema.
Around 1900, the orchestrion (the "mechanical orchestra") became very popular as a musical instrument. Of course, this meant stiff competition between the producing firms. Launching special and sensational models was therefore very important. Until then, imitating violin sounds was done by building organ pipes with a similar timbre into orchestrions. Actually making a real violin play mechanically, however, was a big challenge with many technical problems. But in 1907, Hupfeld bought the rights to the idea of the Violina from the Bajde brothers from Schischka. They had managed to turn three violins and a spinning violin bow into a device that actually sounded like a real violinist. After Hupfeld got hold of the rights, the prototype was combined with his self-playing piano: the Phonoliszt. The new instrument was therefore called the Phonoliszt-Violina. It was first advertised in 1909 in the leading 'Zeitschrift fur Instrumentenbau'. Then, in 1910, the Phonoliszt-Violina was introduced at the World Fair in Brussels, where it received a medal. To purchase one yourself, you had to be affluent. In fact, the instrument cost 8000 Marks; a fortune at this time. On 5 April 1912, the famous violinist Ephram Zimbalist remarked, "Certainly the Phonoliszt Violina is the eighth wonder and marvel of our time". Some 10,000 Hupfeld Violinas were built between 1908 and the late 1920s. They could be seen in restaurants and hotels, sometimes in people's homes, and there were models that served as musical accompaniments in silent films at the cinema.
Dimensions
geheel height: 260 cm
geheel width: 170 cm
geheel depth: 95 cm
geheel width: 170 cm
geheel depth: 95 cm
Digital references