Other Keyboard Instruments



NameImageTraditionDescription
Celesta France The celesta is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard. The "c" can be pronounced as an "s" or "ch". Its appearance is similar to that of an upright piano. The keys are connected to hammers which strike a graduated set of metal (usually steel) plates suspended over wooden resonators. One pedal is available to sustain or dampen the sound. The celesta is a transposing instrument, sounding one octave higher than written.
The celesta was invented in 1889 by the Parisian harmonium builder Auguste Mustel.
Keyboard Bass United States The keyboard bass is the use of a low-pitched keyboard or pedal keyboard to substitute for the bass guitar or double bass in popular music.
Spinet France A spinet is a smaller type of harpsichord or other keyboard instrument, such as a piano or organ.
When the term spinet is used to designate a harpsichord, typically what is meant is the bentside spinet. The bentside spinet shares most of its characteristics with the full-size instrument, including action, soundboard, and case construction. What primarily distinguishes the spinet is the angle of its strings: whereas in a full-size harpsichord, the strings are at a 90 degree angle to the keyboard; and in a virginals they are parallel to the keyboard, in a spinet the strings are at an angle of about 30 degrees to the keyboard, going toward the right.
The image shows a bentside spinet built by Clavecins Rouaud, Paris.



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