Mechanical Piano with Three Violins (Phonoliszt-Violina)-奇美博物館-Collection-0011114

Mechanical Piano with Three Violins (Phonoliszt-Violina) Collection Image, Figure 1, Total 9 Figures

Mechanical Piano with Three Violins (Phonoliszt-Violina) Collection Image, Figure 2, Total 9 Figures

Mechanical Piano with Three Violins (Phonoliszt-Violina) Collection Image, Figure 3, Total 9 Figures

Mechanical Piano with Three Violins (Phonoliszt-Violina) Collection Image, Figure 4, Total 9 Figures

Mechanical Piano with Three Violins (Phonoliszt-Violina) Collection Image, Figure 5, Total 9 Figures

Mechanical Piano with Three Violins (Phonoliszt-Violina) Collection Image, Figure 6, Total 9 Figures

Mechanical Piano with Three Violins (Phonoliszt-Violina) Collection Image, Figure 7, Total 9 Figures

Mechanical Piano with Three Violins (Phonoliszt-Violina) Collection Image, Figure 8, Total 9 Figures

Mechanical Piano with Three Violins (Phonoliszt-Violina) Collection Image, Figure 9, Total 9 Figures

Mechanical Piano with Three Violins (Phonoliszt-Violina)

Author:Hupfeld Musikwerke

Category：Entertainment

Year：ca. 1924

Size:Length:89 x Width:169.2 x Height:262.9 (cm)

Introduction：For a very long time, many makers of mechanical musical instruments worldwide desired to invent an automated instrument that would produce the actual sounds of the violin; however, only two companies succeeded in making such an instrument: Hupfeld in Leipzig, Germany and Mills Novelty in Chicago, United States. Hupfeld used pneumatic technology, while Mills Novelty's Violano-Virtuoso applied electromagnetic operation. Hupfeld was the world's largest manufacturer of mechanical musical instruments from 1892 to 1930. In 1907, Hupfeld invented this mechanical musical instrument, comprising three violins (upper part) and a player piano (lower part). The piano mechanism was named Phonoliszt to commemorate the famous Hungarian pianist and composer Franz Liszt.

In the first few years after the instrument was invented, it was exhibited in several places around the world, earning praises from all who witnessed it as being a marvelous invention. The Hupfeld company used pneumatic chambers to control the rolls and the rotation of the circular bow, allowing the piano and three violins to play in synchronously. It was the first time that a circular bow was ever used to play a violin, using a 1,300-strand horsehair circular bow cage to successfully create a mechanical violin that could imitate the way a real violin is played. The circular bow has four speeds: Forte (loud-default speed); Mezzo forte (medium); Piano (slow/soft) and Accent, allowing various bowing techniques to be used, such as staccato, legato, tremolo, glissando and vibrato. Sometimes when three violins are played simultaneously, it can triple stops.

Starting in 1908, Hupfeld produced and sold this mechanical musical instrument for two decades. The Phonoliszt-Violina is not only the most outstanding invention of all manufacturing history, but also one of the most precious mechanical musical instruments of the CHIMEI Museum collection.

Accession Number:0011114

Place of Orgin：Leipzig, Germany

CHIMEI MUSEUM