Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > July 1998 > 1998.07.13 > 01Prev  Next


Laterna - A Greek Barrel Piano
By Bob Godfried

The instrument that Gerry Bay encountered in Athens, that he described
in MMD 980712, is a Greek barrel piano called a 'laterna'.  They were
manufactured in Constantinople (Istanbul) in the late 19th & early 20th
century.  Some instruments were imported from Italy.

They were played by street entertainers in cities in Greece and western
Turkey, often accompanied by a second person playing a rhythmic accomp-
animent on a "defi" (tambourine).  Melina Mercouri plays a laterna
briefly in the film, "Never on a Sunday."

The last remaining repairman is Nikos Armaos.  Born in Constantinople
in 1890, he settled in Pireaus in 1923; he also made up the pinned
cylinders for the instruments.

There is a CD made in Greece in 1995 featuring him playing a laterna:
"Nikos Armaos - Laterna kai Defi" on Minos-EMI 724383483525, available
from Greek Music & Video in Astoria, NYC: 800-473-3522 or

    http://www.greekmusicusa.com/

There was an article on a laterna: "A Turkish Street Barrel Piano" by
Joeseph Schumacher in the Spring 1996 issue of the Journal of
Mechanical Music.

Bob Godfried
Bronx, NYC
godfried@dti.net


(Message sent Mon 13 Jul 1998, 14:04:05 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Barrel, Greek, Laterna, Piano

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page