Celesta

[deathbysushi]

I thought Harry Potter was played on a glass harmonica. Regardless, this is a great report. NPR never fails to put out quality :D

[steveofonic]

I think it's pronounced suh-LESS-ta, not chuh-LESS-ta.

[LutkaizGrada]

it's like a fairy dust.. =3

[PENGUINGIRL1210]

I want one T^T

[djspecialpaul]

nice Video. I play sometime on a celesta. I love it so much

[wuyanchu]

thx for sharing... love celesta much...

a sincere blessing from hong kong...

god bless everyone. ^_^

[Ambulanceo]

Reminds me of a music box

[ThatsJustDevynn]

it's so cute! :3

[WEEPINGSHAWDOW15]

my name is celeste :D 

[klassymusicteacher]

I'm glad I found this! I have one of the three-octave table top models which I inherited as part of an estate from a deceased gay friend of the family. I keep it in my music classroom for my students to play on from time to time. I'm feeling inspired now to try an make a live video, except mine doesn't have the pedal, and it does need a little bit of cosmetic work. For the record, it will never be for sale!

[KidEllington]

Why aren't these made anymore?? These instruments would make a perfect gift for a child

[porsche911sbs]

The three most famous uses of this instrument in romantic music are in Holst's "The Planets" (specifically, Movement VII, "Neptune, the Mystic"), Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" (in Act II's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy"), and in a piece not mentioned here, Saint-Saëns's "The Carnival of the Animals" (specifically, Movement VII, "Aquarium").

[JohnF30Music]

harry potter theme made me cry

[papoocanada]

not very useful......there's nothing to see !!

[d19t85]

It sounds similar to a good set of wind chimes.

[rredhawk]

My first exposure to this interesting-sounding instrument was listening to Grand Canyon Suite on my dad's record player when I was 5. There's a great solo near the end of the movement called "On The Trail".

[damaband41]

fascinating video

[sillychad18]

omg! I somehow knew he was going to play Neptune, the Mystic from The Planets! even though there's another movement in the Suite that uses the celesta. The Planets inspired John Williams especially when using the celesta in his movies...like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter =)

[manofmystery26]

i really want a celesta!!!!!!!!how much are they?

[lithium3fun]

@manofmystery26 Between $20,000 and $26,000 for a concert instrument... If only they were cheaper...

[singinjohnny]

What a most beautiful sounding instrument. From the first time I heard "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" on a 10-inch 33 1/3 record that my mother bought for me along with my first record player when I was all of 7, I have been captivated by the sound of this instrument. One can only imagine how astounded the listeners in the world of 1886 must have been when first hearing the celesta. This really is a most interesting presentation. Thank you for posting this...

[singinjohnny]

A most beautiful instrument. From the time I first heard "Dance Of the Sugar Plum Fairy" on a 10-inch 33 1/3 record that my mother bought along with my first record player when I was 7, I have been captivated by the utter beauty of this instrument's sound. How astounding it must have sounded to the first listeners in the world of 1886 can only be imagined. A most fascinating presentation. Thank you for posting this...

[madmanmemo]

haha i knew it was npr the moment i heard the guy start talking.

[freitasnetuno]

Celesta, celestial =)

[Screenery]

There is a Mustel celesta for sale on ebay, item number 380181805317. Check it out.

[JekyllBoote]

I spent an afternoon back in 1990 playing a celesta in the Royal Academy of Music, London.

[codeaires]

I've always thought these instruments were cute :D

[xredxrain]

man i want that. it sounds so nice. i never knew it even existed until today XD

[aevasic]

Good thing pluto is not a planet. Maybe they would call the song the multiverse if they had written it today.

[JasonVoorhees999]

Como se llama la cancion que tocan en el Segundo 0:22 ??

[elsrdick]

Sugar plum fairy suite, de "el cascanueses".

[kaylashalaylaaaaa]

whyyy. why can't i have one. i would play it everyday for the rest of my life.

[undekegamisou]

@kaylashalaylaaaaa next best thing...electronic version

[Penguindog55]

A Yamaha keyboard celesta is the next best thing

[Joziaac]

@kaylashalaylaaaaa I would say get a decent synthesizer, with modern technology they're actually pretty good and you don't feel too deprived using it instead of the real instrument.

[DrChemicalX3]

I Want one too. The most beautiful sound i have ever heard in my entire life. Sweet and sombre....

- T.

[BenjamimRM]

This sound is incredible. I saw only one time a celesta in my life, here in Brasília, Brazil, was in a theater, I could play it, it is in-cre-di-ble! Looks like many bells!!!!! And this instrument looks like a piano but it is not as big as a piano, it is very small. I want a celesta!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!

[trinco18]

I want a celesta!!!!! :D

[violinbird]

If a piano and a xylophone had a baby, this would be the result.

[butterblume500]

sweet :-)

[TheSoccerGoalkeeper]

@violinbird No Piano and Glockenspiel.

[kratanuva725]

@TheSoccerGoalkeeper YES!!!! EXACTLY!!!!

[1812Beethovens9th]

@violinbird Tchaikovsky described it as a mixture of Harp & Piano... lol

[krazy4kahne938]

@violinbird More like a vibraphone and a piano love child ;)

[Xx99crushaXx]

@violinbird sorta like a glockenspiel and a piano had baby

[itwentlikethis]

@violinbird correction, if a piano and a VIBRAPHONE had a baby, this would be the result

[Yippie899]

@violinbird no.... it would be a piano and a GLOCKENSPIEL.

[milnueve89]

@violinbird Sorry but the xilophone is made of wood. Maybe you want to say glockenspiel or indeed a vibraphone.

[nejihyuga665]

im going to purchase one of these instruments one day!

[crystal0angel]

celesta is my bf's nieces name LOL

[willruddock]

The celesta is a beautiful instrument. I just downloaded celesta pro and have been playing it non stop.

[Compota]

What song was that from schubert?

[JasonVoorhees999]

Yo tambien quiero saber como se llama la Cancionn!

[JasonVoorhees999]

se llama dance of the sugar plum fairy

[littlemissjonbenet]

I love this instrument

[hotdave86000]

COOL

[Epim3theus]

I love these things -_-

[deerockt]

I played it two years ago! Just some minutes... it sounds nice, it's like a little piano :D

[SubiWatson]

What an intriguing instrument! :D