To finish up with the scale, I should add there are also piano expression holes (4 holes plus sustaining pedal) which are the basic Phonoliszt expression system. These holes, used in combination, also achieve the mechanical shutoff and rewind functions. Finally, there is one additional violin hole which controls the mute (sourdino sound). I think it is amazing this instrument sounds so good considering the expression system... the roll arrangers were true musical geniuses!
Finally, the tremolo is the whole key to the human sound of the instrument. It is single-stroke (one hole = one pulse, rather than a fixed speed on/off reiterating system) and so the skilled music arranger can instantly adjust the speed of the tremolo from near-standstill to fast to suit the emotional character of the music, like a live violinist. According to "Treasures", this is dependent upon a fast enough roll speed, so if the roll is played slower than marked, the tremolo won't sound good!
...for "violin on strongly" which causes the violins to move to the bow faster than normal... which is great when staccato is needed. The expression system is not binary like Duo-Art but rather floating with a fixed MF reference point like Welte-Mignon. The bow speed and violin pressure normally responds to the three expression points (7 RPMs, 14 RPMs, 32 RPMs) rapidly, but the "fast crescendo" hole slows this rate, and "slow crescendo" even more, allowing more gradual volume changes.
The violin expression is key to the instrument. All 3 violins are controlled simultaneously from one expression system and one tremolo hole. This is probably because the 3 violins (with one playing string each) have to emulate 3 strings on a single, regular hand-played violin! There are only 6 holes for violin expression: one for 7 RPM, one for 14 RPMs or Mezzo-Forte (this is kind of a "medium-volume" reference lock like Welte-Mignon), one for 32 RPM or accent, two for crescendo, and another...
The E violin, however, has 16 fingers controlled by 8 holes and a note switch. This is probably because it is the highest one and needs to hit all the high notes. Each violin has a hole called "open D string", "open E string" etc. which controls the pneumatic which moves the violin to the bow. These three holes are what actually "play" each violin.
Hi marksmartus, I have gotten "Treasures" out of the library for a bit and can tell you about the scale. Only 77 holes control all 3 violins, piano, and all expression functions! The piano only plays 38 notes, however an octave coupler hole can put the melody up an additional octave when needed. The D and A violins each only have 10 fingers, controlled by 5 holes with a "note switch" (each finger hole can alternately control 2 fingers) to save space (only 1 finger at a time is used anyway)
We DO know how Mills Violano-Virtuoso rolls were made, however: two artists sat at two keyboards: one was a regular piano, while the other keyboard played a violin similar to the Violano violin. Though this might not be as ideal as having sensors attached to a person actually playing a regular violin, it still did the job and the rolls are quite listenable.
It is possible that the rolls were arranged on a drafting board like the orchestrion rolls; certainly there were many arrangers back then skilled enough to arrange a reproducing roll from scratch complete with realistic dynamics, without even touching a piano (example: many American popular reproducing piano rolls such as Ampico).
When I had the book "Treasures of Mechanical Music" out of the library (I don't own it; it is long out of print and the few used copies available are very expensive), I could tell you more about the scale. There is a new book out: "The Golden Age of Automatic Musical Instruments" which even has it's own web site! and lists many of the scales in "Treasures", including the Phonoliszt-Violina. From what I remember, there are 4 or 5 bow speeds, and bow pressure changes accordingly via a cam.
I'm not sure how Hupfeld made the rolls for this and apparently the experts aren't sure either. You see, not only was Hupfeld one of the largest manufacturers of automatic instruments worldwide (along with Aeolian and Wurlitzer), but they were among the most secretive. (they had to be: patent protection wasn't very strong back then and they didn't want competitors to have their ideas) I don't believe any of the original Hupfeld roll perforators survive nor anyone living to tell the secrets.
This is astonishing. This is actually the finest sounding Phonoliszt-Violina I've ever heard (I've heard about 10 so far). I wonder if Siegfried Wendel and his shop rebuilt this one? Can anyone identify this piece of classical music?
Thanks for all the info! I'd been wanting to find out more about the instrument!
Dojora4 3 years ago
To finish up with the scale, I should add there are also piano expression holes (4 holes plus sustaining pedal) which are the basic Phonoliszt expression system. These holes, used in combination, also achieve the mechanical shutoff and rewind functions. Finally, there is one additional violin hole which controls the mute (sourdino sound). I think it is amazing this instrument sounds so good considering the expression system... the roll arrangers were true musical geniuses!
KawhackitaRag 3 years ago
Finally, the tremolo is the whole key to the human sound of the instrument. It is single-stroke (one hole = one pulse, rather than a fixed speed on/off reiterating system) and so the skilled music arranger can instantly adjust the speed of the tremolo from near-standstill to fast to suit the emotional character of the music, like a live violinist. According to "Treasures", this is dependent upon a fast enough roll speed, so if the roll is played slower than marked, the tremolo won't sound good!
KawhackitaRag 3 years ago
...for "violin on strongly" which causes the violins to move to the bow faster than normal... which is great when staccato is needed. The expression system is not binary like Duo-Art but rather floating with a fixed MF reference point like Welte-Mignon. The bow speed and violin pressure normally responds to the three expression points (7 RPMs, 14 RPMs, 32 RPMs) rapidly, but the "fast crescendo" hole slows this rate, and "slow crescendo" even more, allowing more gradual volume changes.
KawhackitaRag 3 years ago
The violin expression is key to the instrument. All 3 violins are controlled simultaneously from one expression system and one tremolo hole. This is probably because the 3 violins (with one playing string each) have to emulate 3 strings on a single, regular hand-played violin! There are only 6 holes for violin expression: one for 7 RPM, one for 14 RPMs or Mezzo-Forte (this is kind of a "medium-volume" reference lock like Welte-Mignon), one for 32 RPM or accent, two for crescendo, and another...
KawhackitaRag 3 years ago
The E violin, however, has 16 fingers controlled by 8 holes and a note switch. This is probably because it is the highest one and needs to hit all the high notes. Each violin has a hole called "open D string", "open E string" etc. which controls the pneumatic which moves the violin to the bow. These three holes are what actually "play" each violin.
KawhackitaRag 3 years ago
Hi marksmartus, I have gotten "Treasures" out of the library for a bit and can tell you about the scale. Only 77 holes control all 3 violins, piano, and all expression functions! The piano only plays 38 notes, however an octave coupler hole can put the melody up an additional octave when needed. The D and A violins each only have 10 fingers, controlled by 5 holes with a "note switch" (each finger hole can alternately control 2 fingers) to save space (only 1 finger at a time is used anyway)
KawhackitaRag 3 years ago
The song title is "SERENADE IN A" by Franz Drdla. Almost all the rolls sound good on a properly regulated & tuned Hupfeld Phonoliszt-Violina.
earthquake88 3 years ago
We DO know how Mills Violano-Virtuoso rolls were made, however: two artists sat at two keyboards: one was a regular piano, while the other keyboard played a violin similar to the Violano violin. Though this might not be as ideal as having sensors attached to a person actually playing a regular violin, it still did the job and the rolls are quite listenable.
KawhackitaRag 4 years ago
It is possible that the rolls were arranged on a drafting board like the orchestrion rolls; certainly there were many arrangers back then skilled enough to arrange a reproducing roll from scratch complete with realistic dynamics, without even touching a piano (example: many American popular reproducing piano rolls such as Ampico).
KawhackitaRag 4 years ago
When I had the book "Treasures of Mechanical Music" out of the library (I don't own it; it is long out of print and the few used copies available are very expensive), I could tell you more about the scale. There is a new book out: "The Golden Age of Automatic Musical Instruments" which even has it's own web site! and lists many of the scales in "Treasures", including the Phonoliszt-Violina. From what I remember, there are 4 or 5 bow speeds, and bow pressure changes accordingly via a cam.
KawhackitaRag 4 years ago
I'm not sure how Hupfeld made the rolls for this and apparently the experts aren't sure either. You see, not only was Hupfeld one of the largest manufacturers of automatic instruments worldwide (along with Aeolian and Wurlitzer), but they were among the most secretive. (they had to be: patent protection wasn't very strong back then and they didn't want competitors to have their ideas) I don't believe any of the original Hupfeld roll perforators survive nor anyone living to tell the secrets.
KawhackitaRag 4 years ago
Awesome video, definately the best roll and best sound I've heard out of a Phonoliszt recording... I too wish I knew what the musical peice was.
Fivelemental 4 years ago
This Phonoliszt is in the Aveni Residence in Gates Mills OH. It certainly does owe a lot to the roll it was playing!
Dojora4 4 years ago
It's scary that a mechanical device can play so living...
HenrikRagnarsson 4 years ago
it is indeed a great-sounding violina. way better than the model A in Utrecht that is on display there right now.
pianoman1984 4 years ago
This is astonishing. This is actually the finest sounding Phonoliszt-Violina I've ever heard (I've heard about 10 so far). I wonder if Siegfried Wendel and his shop rebuilt this one? Can anyone identify this piece of classical music?
KawhackitaRag 4 years ago