TRANSPOSING PIANO.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1269, 17 August 1880, Page 3

TRANSPOSING PIANO.

a Attempts have been made at various times to construct a pianoforte that would enable the player to transpose the key of the musto that might be played upon it. To raiso or lower the key-note of any piece of music without transposing the kay in which it is written, or without reading it in one key and playing it in another, would be a great convenience, and it has been thought that this might be done by some mechanical means but x none of the experiments in this direction have proved permanently suocesf ul on a commercial scale. More recently a new piano, having a transposing action, has been made; and, from personal examination of the instrument, it would seem to accomplish all that could be desired in this direction in a satisfactory mauner.lt is an upright piano, and externally does not differ from pianos of this class, except that the keyboard has a lateral movement to right or left of about one ootave, the keys sliding in or out of tha lamprests at either side of the desk. This lateral movement applies only to the keys and levers, all the other parts of the aotion remaining fixed, and in the usual position in such pianos. When in its normal position the keys are arranged as in any piano based on a C scale, and a pointer or indicator on the casing above the keyboard points to the note A of the middle octare. The piano may now be used as any other, an"i all the keys are in their true relation. Suppose it is now desired to play a piece of music written in the key of C one halftone lower. A handle at the side of the piano is drawn out, which disconnects the keys and levers from the rest of the aotion. Under the desk is a small crank, and, on turning it a short distance, the entrie keyboard is moved to the left one half-tone This movement is accompanied by a slight sound that indicates that the movement was one half-tone. The handle at the side is pushed in and the piano is ready tor use. The music written and played in C is cow heard in B, every note having been lowered half a tone. Music played in any other key is heard in the next key below throughout, F being in E, A in A flat and so on. Suppose the piece written in C is desired to be heard in E, or four halftones above the normal key of C, the handle is drawn, and the crank is turned once to bring the action to C, and four times to raise it to E, all the keys moving that distance to the right. The handle is pushed in again, and the piano is ready for use, the indicator pointing to the note C sharp. The music written and played in Cis now heard in E. In like manner all ether keys are raised four half- toner, Gr to B, and so on ; and in whatever k9y the music is played, it is heard in a key four half-tones above. The transposing action appears to be simple and not likely to get out of order, and accomplishes its wo.xk with precision. The defect lies in the fact that it does not show in what key the music is given. If it were placed over the note C, when the keyboard is in the normal position, it would show the key in which the sounds are heard. As it stands, the changes of the key must be followed by counting the sounds made dy the crank in moving the action, or by mentally estimating the changes from the indicator. The indicator should show the key-note automatically. This is a defect easily remedied, and the instrumeut may be recommended to vocal teachers, singers, organists,and others as useful and valuable improvements in pinafortes. — Scrihiers for May.