Viola organista

Post by **Impenitent** » Tue Nov 19, 2013 2:58 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv3py3Ap8_Y#t=108

An instrument combining a piano and cello has finally been played to an audience more than 500 years after it was dreamt up Leonardo da Vinci.

A very interesting sound!

Not sure if you can access the story, as it's on The Age website: http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/ ... 2xpqs.html

Post by **yovargas** » Tue Nov 19, 2013 3:30 am

They needed to take video of the inside!

Post by **narya** » Tue Nov 19, 2013 4:20 am

It's all right there - look at the still picture, then look at the close ups that are in the video, at 9:27. From the keys back you have the tuning pins, then the bridge, then the mechanism to pull each string down individually, and dampen it when not in use, then the four red spinning disks which appear to be steel rimmed but evidently have some horsehair on their rim. And beyond that, the bridges for the other ends of the strings. As the key is pushed down, the string pushes down on the spinning rim.

Or you can just look at a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS9c76V4RDE

Post by **Frelga** » Tue Nov 19, 2013 5:41 am

So, basically, a highly evolved hurdy-gurdy. Very appropriate that it should be made in Poland.

Post by **Impenitent** » Tue Nov 19, 2013 6:17 am

I suspect this design by da Vinci predates the hurdy gurdy, doesn't it?

Post by **narya** » Tue Nov 19, 2013 6:35 am

The hurdy gurdy has one generally one string, the length of which is determined as it is played, so only one note can sound at a time. The viola organista has a full set of fixed strings, and you can play as many as you like at a time.

Horn:organ::hurdy gurdy:viola organista

I'm seriously geeking out on this. Did I ever mention the time I built a clavichord?

Post by **Frelga** » Tue Nov 19, 2013 7:16 am

Impish, I think it's likely that gurdy goes back to before Da Vinci's time. Wiki mentions references to 10th century texts describing similar instruments.

narya, do tell about the clavichord! My favorite thing about having a piano in the house was opening the lid and watching all the little hammers jump. And a hurdy can have multiple strings, both drone and melody.

Post by **Jude** » Tue Nov 19, 2013 11:10 am

Narya, I never knew you made a clavichord! Do you still have it?

There's a museum of keyboard instruments in St. Cecilia's Hall in Edinburgh - it's a must-see for any musical geek.