ELKA Rhapsody
| ELKA Rhapsody | |
|---|---|
ELKA Rhapsody 610 on Rhodes Mark I electric piano
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| General | |
| Manufacturer | ELKA |
| Production period | 1974-1980 |
| properties | |
| polyphonic | Yes |
| Keys | 49/61 (not velocity sensitive) |
| connections | General Out (jack socket) Piano Out (jack socket) Volume pedal ( 3-pin DIN socket) Pedal (16-pin Hirschmann socket ) |
The ELKA Rhapsody (also: "ElkaRhapsody") is a string keyboard that was produced between 1974 and 1980 by the Italian company ELKA in two versions (490 and 610) that differ in their range of functions. In terms of sound and structure, it can be compared with other so-called “string ensembles” of this time (including ARP Solina String Ensemble , Roland RS-202, Hohner / Logan String Melody ).
Models
ELKA Rhapsody 490
The 490 model has 49 keys and two different sounds, the volume ("Volume") and the decay time ("Sustain") of which can be changed: "Violoncello" and "Strings".
It was sold for the international market by the German company Hohner under the name "StringVox" in white color.
ELKA Rhapsody 610
The 610 model has 61 keys and four different sounds: "Violoncello", "Strings", "Piano" and "Clavichord". These can be switched on and off (“Cancel” buttons to the left of the manual) and independently of each other in volume and decay time (slider above the manual). The special feature here is the split keyboard - the volume ratio of the individual voices in the two lower and three upper octaves can be set independently of each other. A bass accompaniment (e.g. “violoncello” + “piano”) can be played with the left hand while the right hand strikes “string” chords.
ELKA organs
The technology of the Rhapsody model 610 is also built into some electric organs from ELKA: once in the Artist 605, 606 or X605, X606 and Crescendo 303 models, twice in the Artist 705, 707 or X705, X707 models. The "Cancel" buttons have been replaced by organ register toggle switches. Splitting the keyboard is not possible, but this can be compensated for in the (X) 7xx models by using both manuals for different sounds.
sound
The string sound of the ELKA Rhapsody is similar to that of other string keyboards from the 70s , but has its own characteristics: The sound has a distinct brilliance in the higher octaves and is slightly noisy in the lower octaves, without losing its soft, pad-like sound. Thanks to its additional “piano” and “clavichord” sounds, the model 610 is somewhat more variable in sound than other string ensembles.
The imitations of strings , piano and clavichord can not keep up with today's samplers , but are to be viewed as independent sounds. With skillful use, the ELKA Rhapsody can still be used today.
user
- John Acock ( Steve Hackett ) on the album Voyage of the Acolyte (probably model 490)
- Tony Banks ( Genesis ) on the album The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (presumably model 490 mixed with Mellotron )
- Rough cut live 1978
- Jean Michel Jarre on several albums (model 610)
- Phil Kimbrough ( Yezda Urfa ) on the albums Boris and Sacred Baboon (model 610)
- Locanda delle Fate on her only album Forse Le Lucciole Non Si Amano Più (model 490)
- Didier Lustig (Shylock) on the albums Gialorgues and Ile de Fièvre as well as live (model 610)
- Omega on the album The Hall of Floaters in the Sky 1975
- David Palmer ( Jethro Tull ) on the albums Songs from the Wood and Live - Bursting Out as well as live (model 610)
- Premiata Forneria Marconi live 1976, possibly also on the album Chocolate Kings (model 610)
- Radio Massacre International on the albums Emissaries (Model 490)
- Klaus Schulze u. a. on the album Timewind (model 610)
- Claudio Simonetti ( Goblin ) on the album Roller and live (model 490)
- Supertramp on the albums Even in the Quietest Moments , Breakfast in America and Paris as well as live (model 610)
- Tangerine Dream on several albums and live (model 610)
- Vangelis (model 610)
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ List of live equipment from Grobschnitt, 1978
- ↑ Shylock live at the Gouveia Art Rock Festival 2012
- ↑ Jethro Tull live in the London Hippodrome 1977 ( Memento from December 2, 2010 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ PFM live on the show 'Old Gray Whistle Test' 1976
- ^ Tangerine Dream live in London, 1976
- ^ Photo by Vangelis with ELKA Rhapsody 610
