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

End-of-Year Fundraising Drive In Progress. Please visit our home page to see this and other announcements: https://www.mmdigest.com     Thank you. --Jody

MMD > Archives > December 2002 > 2002.12.23 > 02Prev  Next


Laterna by Turconi of Istanbul
By Mike Knudsen

I feel that I should stick my two cents in here to clear up a possible
misconception, that these back-packed barrel pianos sound "Turkish" or
"Greek" because they're mistuned.

When I lived near Chicago a few years ago, I visited a young
collector in the North Loop who was selling quite a few small mechanical
instruments.  One that I almost bought, and still wish I had, was
a back-piano labeled "Turconi."  That name suggested a Turkish-Italian
maker.

One of the tunes started out like a typical German waltz, but halfway
through, the Sultan strode into the harem!  At least, that's how we
described the Turkish-style tune that stormed into the bass register,
as if to break up the waltzing.  But the waltz chords and bass seemed
perfectly Western European, so we didn't think of the instrument as
mis-tuned.  It seemed to hold its tuning well, unlike those Barcelona
souvenirs [barrel pianos].

The other tunes were "Turkish" the whole way through, as I recall.

This piano also rang a small bell three times at the end of the
"Sultan's" tune; perhaps that will give more clues as to its style.

Mike Knudsen


(Message sent Tue 24 Dec 2002, 02:15:07 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Istanbul, Laterna, Turconi

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