Panharmonicon
Encyclopedia
The Panharmonicon was a musical instrument
invented in 1805 by Johann Nepomuk Mälzel
, a contemporary and friend of Beethoven
. Beethoven apparently composed his piece "Wellington's Victory
" (Op. 91) to be played on this behemoth mechanical orchestral organ to commemorate Arthur Wellesley
's victory over the French at the Battle of Vitoria
in 1813. It was one of the first automatic playing machine, similar to the later Orchestrion
, and it was using free reeds
.
The Panharmonicon could imitate all instruments and sound effects like gunfire and cannon shots. One instrument was destroyed in the Landesgewerbemuseum in Stuttgart
during an air raid in World War II
. More as one Instrument was built, 1808 a more sophisticated one was finished.
One of Mälzel's Panharmonicons was sent to Boston 1811 and was exhibited there and then in New York City and other cities.
Mälzel also was on tour with interruptions with this instrument in the USA from February 7 1826 until his death in 1838.
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
invented in 1805 by Johann Nepomuk Mälzel
Johann Nepomuk Mälzel
Johann Nepomuk Maelzel [or Mälzel] was an inventor, engineer, and showman, best known for manufacturing a metronome and several music automatons, and displaying a fraudulent chess machine.-Life and work:...
, a contemporary and friend of Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
. Beethoven apparently composed his piece "Wellington's Victory
Wellington's Victory
Wellington's Victory, or, the Battle of Vitoria, Op. 91 is a minor orchestral work composed by Ludwig van Beethoven to commemorate the Duke of Wellington's victory over Joseph Bonaparte's forces at the Battle of Vitoria in Basqueland on June 21, 1813...
" (Op. 91) to be played on this behemoth mechanical orchestral organ to commemorate Arthur Wellesley
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
's victory over the French at the Battle of Vitoria
Battle of Vitoria
At the Battle of Vitoria an allied British, Portuguese, and Spanish army under General the Marquess of Wellington broke the French army under Joseph Bonaparte and Marshal Jean-Baptiste Jourdan near Vitoria in Spain, leading to eventual victory in the Peninsular War.-Background:In July 1812, after...
in 1813. It was one of the first automatic playing machine, similar to the later Orchestrion
Orchestrion
An orchestrion is a generic name for a machine that plays music and is designed to sound like an orchestra or band. Orchestrions may be operated by means of a large pinned cylinder or by a music roll and less commonly book music. The sound is usually produced by pipes, though they will be voiced...
, and it was using free reeds
Free reed aerophone
A free reed aerophone is a musical instrument where sound is produced as air flows past a vibrating reed in a frame. Air pressure is typically generated by breath or with a bellows.- Operation :...
.
The Panharmonicon could imitate all instruments and sound effects like gunfire and cannon shots. One instrument was destroyed in the Landesgewerbemuseum in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
during an air raid in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. More as one Instrument was built, 1808 a more sophisticated one was finished.
- Friedrich Kaufmann copied this automatic playing machine in 1808 and his family produced Orchestrions from that time on.
One of Mälzel's Panharmonicons was sent to Boston 1811 and was exhibited there and then in New York City and other cities.
Mälzel also was on tour with interruptions with this instrument in the USA from February 7 1826 until his death in 1838.
- In 1817 Flight & Robson in London built a similar automatic instrument called Apollonicon.
- In 1821 Dietrich Nikolaus WinkelDietrich Nikolaus WinkelDietrich Nikolaus Winkel was the inventor of the first successful metronome. He also invented the componium, an automatic instrument that could make endless variations on a musical theme....
copies in Amsterdam the Panharmonicon and calls this Componium. - In 1823 William M. GoodrichWilliam M. GoodrichWilliam M. Goodrich was an Organ builder in the United States....
copied Mälzel's Panharmonicon in Boston, PA.
External links
- http://mmd.foxtail.com/Archives/Digests/199808/1998.08.15.15.html
- http://ludwig0van0beethoven.tripod.com/battle.html
- http://www.madaboutbeethoven.com/pages/people_and_places/people_friends/biog_maelzel.htm
- http://www.synthmuseum.com/magazine/time0010.html