Klarinet Archive - Posting 000416.txt from 2000/10

From: BEresman@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Real musicians don't.....
Date: Mon, 9 Oct 2000 11:31:40 -0400

Bill Hausmann wrote:

>There was even one company, the Mills Novelty Company, that made a device
called the
>Violano Virtuoso, which played one or even TWO VIOLINS in addition to
>piano! Solenoids operated many "fingers" along the fingerboard. The
>strings were kept taught with WEIGHTS, not just tuning pegs, allowing them
>to compensate somewhat for atmospheric conditions. The strings were
played
>with rosined wheels which sped up and slowed down, creating expression.
>The tailpiece moved back and forth, causing a vibrato effect. What an
>amazing technological marvel, although as a musical instrument it still
>left something to be desired!

About ten or twelve years ago a soda fountain opened in my hometown, with
an enormous walnut bar (complete with polished brass rail), player piano
and one of these violin contraptions. I'd never seen one before (nor have
i since) but you are right, they are a mechanical marvel (or i suppose a
nightmare, if you had to service it!). It even sounded slightly better
than i did when i attempted to play violin in second grade (but only
slightly!).

Now, if we start with one of those artificial embouchures and add some
modern robotics, could we come up with a player clarinet?

Brent Eresman
YSI Precision Temperature

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