Terpodion
The Terpodion or Uranion is a keyboard instrument that uses as the more familiar glass harmonica and the Clavicylinder friction for sound generation.
Instead of rotating glass bell rotates a lacquered wooden drum. From the instrument 25 units were built, most of Friedrich Buschmann, son of Johann David Bushman, the inventor of this instrument. This was originally Posamentierer and dealt before the development of Terpodions with the repair of musical instruments. 1817 had this instrument a range of 5.5 octaves. In 1821 an instrument to London, 1821 sold David Bushman in London a license to build Terpodien to the instrument maker David Loeschmann ( Loescham ) and the cheese merchant James Allwright. Then at least one Terpodion in England was built.
1841 reappeared a report in a London newspaper. Some instruments are preserved in the museums in Copenhagen, Leipzig, Vienna, London, Brussels, Stockholm, Jevisovice and Frankfurt / Oder.
Licensing
In addition to the license, which was awarded in 1821 to Löschmann in London, acquired in 1835 and the piano and organ builder Johann Georg Gröber from Innsbruck a license for reproduction of Terpodions from father Johann David Bushman.
Technical Description
A certain relationship with the glass harmonica and the Clavicylinder there. In the glass harmonica sound by rubbing against the glass bulb is produced with wet fingers. When Terpodion rubs against a rotating roll, a structure which can be made to vibrate. These oscillating members are in the deeper shades usually made of wood, at the high tones mainly made of metal. Adjustable weights on the vibrating parts are used for tuning. The roller is made of boxwood or, as can be seen in the cited patent, made of other materials. The coating of the roll was carried out with a special paint mixture was ground after drying. The composition of this coating solution is critical. The exact composition is in the patent specification ( 2 parts alcohol, 1 part mastic, 1 part Sandarak, 1/16 part of camphor).
The vibrating parts are urged by the key action mechanism of the rotating roller. With the roll a sort of hammer comes into contact, which is covered with napped suede. This hammer is also impregnated with varnish. The volume can be changed by the touch of a button, but is much quieter towards the deeper shades with a constant expression. There are sound samples of repaired instruments.
Mostly, the instruments did not work very long and had to be reliably maintained regularly by Bushman. This was possibly one of the reasons why the Bushman worked feverishly to improve and the use of an alternative sound engine. The instrument was piano keys and was similar in appearance to the harmonium. Furthermore, the follow-up models were often combined with tongue registers. It is therefore difficult to make a precise assignment to a particular group of instruments. The Bushman family thus had a very significant contribution to the development of the harmonium, both pressure and at Saugwind instruments.
The Melodion Dietz
Very similar was the Melodion or Panmelodion. Built by Dietz in Emmerich invented and from 1806 instrument was presented by Petzhold (or Betzold ) in many places in appearances. There was only one significant difference: All Tonstäbe were metal. " The sound is due to the friction of metal rods [ ... ] surrounded by an elastic body by means of the, be brought umdrehenden Cylinders, which [ ... ] will be held with the feet of the player in motion, [ ... ] "
From Melodion far more instruments were built as the Terpodeon. " His factory is already in such Flor [ irenden state ] that resistant to thirty [( 30) ] are instruments in the works. Most paragraph shall be construed to now only on the neighboring Holland and Westphalia, where the inventor on a small trip itself this instrument [ vorführte ] [... ]. " Was Moisturizes as opposed to Clavicylinder nothing of it. " - And produced without use of water; the inner [ ... ] mechanism has wol the most resemblance with that of Chladni Klavieylinders, but is less composed and performed far more perfect. "It voices or change the pitch by up to plus or minus a quarter note of Tonstäbe took place via a set screw for each sound. A retuning, however, was usually not required, since the metal Tonstäbe little tune. Dietz also invented nor Chalybssonnans wherein the Fraktionston generated on glass and steel rods in the longitudinal direction. The sound resembles almost entirely of the glass harmonica.
The melodica of Riffelsen
Also comparable is the melodica of Riffelsen which has already been demonstrated in Altona, Copenhagen and Kiel in 1805. Riffelsen came from fishing, which is located at the former border to Schleswig. Here were the rotating drum made of iron and the Swinging structures made of brass. Quote: " Riffelsen invents a new musical instrument he called a melodica. In Copenhagen, Mr. Riffelsen from Holstein, which at the Institute of Education of the court chaplain Christian is there teacher of mechanics, a new musical instrument invented the tones by friction messingener pins on a steel cylinders are produced. This instrument has intention of the sound is most similar to the [ glass ] harmonica is provided with a Claviatur, and exceeds the harmony by the ease with which one gets the tone, and by the wealth and power of the bass tones. It will be called Melodica. Arnstädtische weekly ads and messages, 8tes St. 1803. "
Panmelodicon by Franz Leppich
The Panmelodicon by Franz Leppich used a cone-shaped rotating drum and angularly bent brass metal rods. The range was five full octaves, from the large С up to four times crossed C. On March 29, 1810, he gave a concert with Kreutzer in kk ball room. Also worth mentioning is that he has more inventions and made. Conradin Kreutzer was famous among other things by its set to music for Ludwig Uhland Wanderlieder throughout Europe who later lived in Vienna and led before a Panmelodion, that came from the hand of Franz Leppich, Mr. Franz Leppich (* October 15, 1778; ) learned Riffelsein who traveled the Danish at the same time, know in Altona, built with him his melodeon, the Franz Leppich later but before 1810 nachbaute in Vienna and improved. He was allowed to perform the instrument Napoleon, whose recognition he received [ Biography 1 ] Also in the Augarten, the artists were on, but the concert was postponed four times, including on June 5, 1810 Rationale:. . Transporting the instrument has not survived without damage, or it was too cold for the outdoor screenings. In the general literature Gazette 1810 page 404 there is a note that he developed the instrument with Riffelsen and that all materials for the sounding parts can be used, including wood and lead, which he ascribes a special beautiful sound. Also a detailed description with drawings and suggestions for improvement can be found in this issue of the magazine. Other reports clarify that Leppich claves thought of baked clay with " tallow" or " tallow ".
Original description for Leppichs or Riffelsens instrument
In the general musical newspaper from 1811 there is a good description of the function of the instrument and with estimated dimensions sufficient to reproduce approximately the same instrument. The description is actually that of an instrument that was built by Riffelsen in 1809.
The Xylosistron of Uthe
The organ and instrument maker Uthe hollow Städt at Sangerhausen invented the Xylosistron, which is also comparable to the Terpodion. Uthe had worked in Berlin with Georg Joseph Vogler.
Other inventions
1812, he was also finds a collection of then new inventions: glass harmonica, Euphon, Callipson, Melodion, Anemochord, Clavicylinder, triphone, Xylosistron, Uranion, Harmonichord, Panmelodion, tenor viola, bass war.
Description of Friktionsmusikinstrumente in 1829
The Handbook of Natural Philosophy by Georg Wilhelm Munke from 1829 describes the Friktionsmusikinstrumente. He rated the Terpodion as the only one that it deserves to be reproduced. The actual sounding body or structures are generally metal bars, where in most cases the rotating roller rubs directly, and offset in transverse vibrations. The sound produced by transverse vibration is similar to that of the tuning fork. The vibrating body can be held in two vibration nodes, then in the middle of a perpendicular on it Set Bar is attached, the end of which is covered with felt or leather and is pushed through buttons on the rotating roller. This longitudinal oscillations into transverse vibrations are converted at the bar. Dietz chose round steel rods in his Panmelodion. [ ... ] Merchant Harmonichord and Masloskys Coelison are flügelförmigem, a fortepiano very similar appearance, and there are additionally brought strings vibrate. Kaufmann's Harmonichord has a piano and a rotating cylinder and otherwise all features of Terpodions. The Coelison has no keyboard and the strings are brought to the tones through the detour through whalebone. The whalebone rods are rubbed with leather, sticky made by Kolophoniumpulver, gloves that stimulate in a row on resonance, the strings vibrate. Bushman 's Terpodion among all the most beautiful, in terms of the tone, volume and ease of speech.
Chladni called this instrument Clavicylinder, and the tone -generating roller, the coating roller, also finally showed the same so long kept secret construction. The actual sounding body are namely metal rods to which either the coating roller immediately rubs and puts them into transverse vibrations, so that they produced a by transverse vibrations, giving the tuning fork -like sound, or which tied in two vibration nodes in the middle of a lothrecht on their wear Längenaxe fixed rod, the other folded end is coated with something felt, and is forced through the key against the coating roller, so that the same set into longitudinal vibrations generated in the transverse character. Instead of the felt you can also take leather and instead of the doctor roller to wet, this leather sprinkle with a little rosin, in which case must be-ing the roll of wood or better of brass *). Although the original instrument was kept secret, but erspäheten different artists, which some parts were manufactured to the mystery, and made it after. This was done by Dietz, round steel bars which chose his Panmelodion, by an Italian artist whose construirter brass rods Clavicylinder was shown by violinist Creuzer by Buschmann in Terpodien, by a merchant in Harmonichord and Maslosky in Coelison. The latter two instruments consist of wing-shaped, covered with strings, the fortepiano very same, only upward bodies and the Harmonichord the strings through the coating roller, but brought the Coelison by whalebone for tones, which, with leather, sticky by Colophoniumpulver gloves rubbed the vibrations of the strings produce; the Terpodion is to be known and multiplies the most beautiful, earned in its burrows at all, because it comes with the Annehmlichheit of sound great strength, flexibility, light response of the tones and smallness connects, at the same time, however, as all of these tools, his mood invariably reserves. ".
Contemporary reports in newspapers
( All of the following quotes are adapted to present-day German, the original text is visible from the given address. )
The General Musical Newspaper, No 30 of April 25, 1810 reported on page 469 and 470 as follows: " By the way, some thoughts on the Clavicylinder. Round or square glass panes give known when they are fixed on the edge at one point, [ ... ] sounds a tone when they are rubbed by another smooth glass body on the high, smooth bevel. - The point of attachment as well as the point of contact when rubbing must be carefully sought. - Similarly, the Tongröße the glass panes must be examined. - Can be attached to a keyboard such glass panes with certain Tongröße on behind the end, it is a Community cylinder, which rubs the glass panes when the same meeting by the pressure of the keys to the cylinder, elicit any glass peculiar tone. It is understood that any button on the front end of the counterweight needs as much as the glass sheet behind the end.
A newly invented keyboard instrument is called Uranion. This instrument has many similarities with the Melodion in shape and variety. It is 4 feet long, 2 feet wide and 1 foot high; it therefore has a compact and an attractive appearance. The extent of the shades is five half octaves; namely from the Contra -F to the four - wheeled c. The cylinder is moved with the same cloth and is set in motion by means of a foot Ritts and wheel. Since the mechanism of this instrument is extremely simple, and the main thing a fraction of wood, not of metal or glass in Herzvorbringung of the clay, so the same is not only lighter than an ordinary fortepiano, but it can certainly also a result by a reasonable price to be purchased. When I Melodion, played by Petzold heard, I found that the bass sounds relatively [ ... ] were weak, the error has not Uranion; also, in this the high middle and low tones not so different than that, and let all gradations from the softest piano to considerable Forte. His tone is truly heavenly and strongly affects the heart. The inventor called Bushman and lives in the 1 mile from Gotha altitude mountain town Friedrichroda. He is a Posamentirer by profession and tried it several years ago because he found pleasure in pursuits like to repair old pianos and other keyboard instruments; while getting to know more and more precisely their internal structure; soon he had built himself some such instruments, and finally went also to the execution of this so noble instrument, which he has given on the advice of the names Uranion. He has now begun a journey with it and can be first in Schmalkalden hear where several experts, and especially [ also ] Pierling, the instruments gave their approval. "
In the general musical newspaper of JL Dussek No. 16 of April 15, 1824, page 257 we find the following message: "The instrument maker JD Buschmann from the first of March to ten years for the whole monarchy a patent for the exclusive right to manufacture and Use of the musical keyboard instrument invented by him Terpodion obtained, the sound is well known by means of friction is produced by a peculiar form of wooden and existing in height by the part of metal clay pieces. "
In the Berlin general musical newspaper, Volume 1 From Adolf Bernhard Marx on December 1, 1824 Page 441 is reported: "On 6 November, Mr John David Bushman was an extra concert and was heard on the instrument he invented keys Terpodion. The sound is caused by the friction of ordered wooden rods and the glass harmonica is the similar, but fuller and smoother. Once played on this instrument four hands, so it requires an accurate recording; but this was not always the case, by the violinist painting the keys more than the Secundarius and thus the bass sounds to the already weaker treble, suppressed, "
In the general musical newspaper of Leipzig No. 18, from May 1, 1833 page 297 we read: "At last also gave more [ ... ] and Mr Buschmann, father and son, from Berlin a musical evening entertainment (?). [ ... ] The latter enraptured by her Terpodion, an instrument that would need our opinion excellent in weak or poorly occupied orchestras where it could replace the clarinets, flutes and bassoons by name, whose tones it surpasses in part to euphony far. A chant is played on this instrument a true angel music. "
Add a New Journal for Music, Volume 1 by Beethoven Foundation, General German Musikverein No. 13, from May 15, 1834 on page 52 we read: " Prague. The gentlemen Buschmann gave two concerts, on the Terpodion. "
In the Wiener Allgemeine Musik-Zeitung, Volume 3 by August 1843 on page 628 we read: "( Friedrich Buschmann ) in Hamburg, whose father is known, invented the Terpodion, currently a Physharmonica has completed for a new peculiar construction, which makes this otherwise somewhat difficult applicable instrument to be treated for each concert music is quite extraordinary does as an accompaniment to the songs. "
A favorable ruling on Terpodion: " The Würzburg Franz Leppich invented in Vienna in 1810 his so-called Panmelodicon, where instead of straight tone bars at a right angle curved were applied, the falter with the thinnest end into a soundboard; with the other end by means of the buttons was pressed against the accommodated by a kick to rotate whiproll. In the same year turned JB Bushman, then to Friedrichsrode at Gotha, instead of the metal chimes wood, and called his instrument Uranion, from which the present Terpodion arose. Diess instrument surpasses due to the uncommon wealth and splendor of his deep tones and easy response of all sounds in general all previously known instruments of the same kind, which I heard almost all of themselves, the depth is like a beautiful intonirten sechzehnfüßigen Bourdonbass the organ, and collected at the same time in the small Octave duly treated the horn according to the most deceptive manner. The level holds the mean between oboe and clarinet, and is similar to the English horn. The Conzertgeber began on the Terpodion with a Chorale and Divertissement by Rink; set for four hands - and for hymns, for the so-called polyphonic bound Diess of writing instrument is also quite properly determined. The ease with which to address its tones, though tolerates the fastest, most brilliant treatment, but the sound itself loses a lot of luster and character. Just as little tolerate it, like the accordion, the accompaniment of other instruments, and as Hr. Pellegrini, the known, O Iris and Osiris give ' ic. from Mozart's Magic Flute sung with accompaniment of Terpodions, the instrument had much to contend with the powerful voice of this excellent singer. "