Andrew Brown, a violinist from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, is seen carving a kind of circular wooden violin base on a workbench; several old violin-type instruments hang on the wall. Commentator tells us Andrew re-creates old instruments from long ago.
He walks into his living room and picks up a Vielle, a violin from the time of William the Conqueror, and starts to play a jaunty little tune (natural sound). Andrew then picks up an Ur Heen (ancient Chinese instrument) and a Ravanastron, made from a stick inserted into a coconut. He picks up a Welsh Crwth, which looks like a Greek harp or Hebrew lyre, and starts to play.
At the British Piano Museum we see several automatic pianos playing. Various shots show a Steinway Reproducing Grand Piano, seemingly playing itself; museum owner Frank Holland opens a lid on the piano so we can see the music roll turning round. We then see a clockwork barrel piano that came from an Edwardian pub.
Frank starts up an Edison cylinder phonograph from 1908 and we hear the tinny sound of a couple singing 'Aba Daba Honeymoon" - fascinating. An upright Steinway plays a roll of music by Johann Strauss that was recorded by Richard Epstein in 1912. A Swiss music box is seen briefly, then an organ with a tambourine attached. Museum worker Mr WR Wilson sits beside a playing 1920s Honky Tonk piano, then we see the last exhibit, a Mills Violano Virtuoso, which actually plays a violin, with piano accompaniment - amazing!
29 сен 2024
