Electronium
The electronium is an electronic musical instrument in the style of a keyboard , generally in the shape of an accordion .
It is part of the standard equipment of an accordion orchestra and was developed in the middle of the last century by Rene Seybold from Strasbourg and has been marketed by Hohner since 1952 . The sense and purpose of the instrument was to enhance the sound of accordion orchestras. The electronium looks like a normal accordion on the outside, but has no bass buttons on the accompanying side. On the right is a normal keyboard . Above where the register buttons are located on a normal accordion , a long row of timbres is available. Is offered z. B. "Clarinet", "Oboe" or "Bassoon" etc. On the other side are three memory buttons and an octave lever that can be moved in three positions (octave switching high-medium-low). The instrument has undergone a number of technological changes over the decades. The first editions were still tube sets, later more modern versions with transistors followed. The latest generation uses sampling technology. With the change in technology, there was also a change in tone colors. Current devices can reproduce both the old tube electronic sounds and natural instruments. The bellows dynamic conversion affects the volume as well as the timbre itself and the response behavior. Unlike the accordion, the electronium itself does not produce any tones . It is connected to a sound module that generates the desired sound and in turn forwards it to an amplifier .
construction
register
The registers are similar to those on a keyboard. They range from bassoon to timpani and guitar. There are far more register buttons than on an accordion, but because there is not enough space for the large number of registers (there are sometimes different versions of an instrument), there are usually eight registers on each button, which can be obtained by turning the button differently often presses in a row.
Memory buttons
The memory buttons can be used to store registers (e.g. for very short pauses between switching over). To do this, hold down the corresponding memory button, select the register and then release the memory button. Since the left hand has no notes to play, you can switch to registers in a fraction of a second, for which you would have to press the register key several times.
Octave lever
With the octave lever you can change the pitch quickly and easily. There are three settings: high, medium and low. So you don't have to jump so far with your hand, or you can reach tones in highs or lows that would otherwise not be achievable. The octave lever is located next to the memory buttons and can also be operated very quickly with the left hand.
bellows
The electronium also has a bellows which, however, does not have to be pulled or pushed to produce sound. It is only used to regulate the volume . The wider the bellows is open, the louder the sound. The further it is closed, the quieter the sound. You can compare it to a volume pedal.
use
Since it is not self-accompanying, the electronium is usually not used as a solo instrument. It is very common in accordion orchestras. Many compositions for accordion orchestras have one or sometimes even several parts explicitly for electronium.
composition
Gerbert Mutter Sonata bukolika for electronium and piano
Web links
- Electronium / Electronium Pi ( Memento from March 2, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
Individual evidence
- ↑ The Elektronium P , however, had the shape of a shortened piano
- ↑ The Hohner Electronium ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
