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MMD > Archives > December 2002 > 2002.12.18 > 03Prev  Next


Rueckenklavier Back Piano Plays Turkish Songs
By Christian Greinacher

Recently I acquired a rare mechanical music instrument -- in the
German language we call it "Rueckenklavier", i.e., a piano to be
carried on the back.

I have no idea about the maker of this instrument. I am going to
attach some pictures and would be happy if anybody could tell me
more about the instrument.

Brief description:

 - Dimensions are 62 cm x 45 cm x 102 cm (w x d x h)
 - Barrel diameter 21 cm
 - 33 claves (32 notes plus 1 saucer bell)

Scale:
  two strings per note:
A, H, D, E, Fis, G, A, H, Cis, D, E, Fis
  three strings per note:
G, Gis, A, H, Cis, D, Dis, E, F, Fis, G, Gis, A, B, H, C, Cis, D, E, Fis

9 tunes on the barrel.  All these melodies are unknown and sound very
strange to me.  I would describe them as "Turkish" (Janitscharenmusik)
[Janizary music].

The pictures show

1) total view closed instrument
2) total view open instrument
3) label, glued inside the instrument; unfortunately all text is
   scratched out
4) detail of the label, showing a drawing of the instrument
5) barrel

I would appreciate any answer!

Greetings from Germany
Christian Greinacher

 [ See the MMD Pictures site, http://mmd.foxtail.com/Pictures/
 [ -- Robbie


Key Words in Subject:  Back, Piano, Plays, Rueckenklavier, Songs, Turkish

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