I was just reading about the celesta, a keyboard instrument that strikes plates rather than strings, as in the case of a piano. Okay, just go with it. I think I've heard something of the instrument before but felt like sampling it again. This is a piece by Debussy, a very affecting composer. I think it's more often played on the piano. But this woman's playing definitely works for me.
2 comments:
When I listened to the piece she played my first thought was that it was much like hearing tuned windchimes. I looked carefully at the bits that showed the hammers striking and realized it really was plates rather than chimes. Interesting. The only other instrument that makes similar tones is a vibraphone but they keep sounding after being struck by the mallets. The difference, and a big one it is, is that the celesta has dampers similar to those of a piano that stop the vibration.
Clair de Lune is a beautiful piece of music and her excellent playing reminded me of the magic of watching Fantasia. One of my favorite Golden Age artists, Kay Nielson, was largely responsible for the artwork on that film.
Thanks for the reminder.
btw: We're getting snowed upon this week, enough that it's looking a bit treacherous outside right now. It's pretty but it likely won't stay long - just as well since Victoria doesn't have much snow removal equipment.
As I type this response I'm listening to the Modern Jazz Quartet, who featured Milt Jackson on vibes. The vibration is of course part of the appeal of the vibraphone--hence the name. That said, the celesta, having a more contained version of the same basic tone, does carve out its own niche.
Her playing is quite entrancing. I enjoyed the Kay Nielsen art in that link. His work at various times resembles Arthur Rackham and Aubrey Beardsley. Interesting collaborator for a mainstream animation studio. As it happens he drew concept art for a Disney adaptation of "The Little Mermaid." Of course Disney actually did wind up adapting it decades later. I wonder if that movie used any of his ideas.
It seems unwise to me for any city not to have sufficient snow removal equipment. You never know how much you're going to get. Of course there are cities in the Southern US that grind to a halt if they get an inch.
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