Celesta and keyboard glockenspiel rental

We pay close attention to the originality and tonal authenticity of our celestas and keyboard glockenspiels. Therefore, we deliberately chose to rent historical instruments. The components used in this old instruments, especially the silver steel, offer an outstanding sound and are significantly different from modern instruments. For this reason, our rental celestas and keyboard glockenspiels often come closer to the sound concepts of the composers of the time and are frequently used by many well-known orchestras and conductors.

Celesta rental for concerts, orchestra tours & studio recordings

The “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” from Peter Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker”, the opera “Der Rosenkavalier” (The Knight of the Rose) by Richard Strauss or “Hedwig’s Theme” from the “Harry Potter” sound track by John Williams is unthinkable without a celeste / celesta.

The sound of a celesta is irreplaceable by any other instrument.

Each of our celestas is lovingly restored and precisely tuned. They are regularly serviced (regulated) by a Berlin-based specialist workshop. Whether for rehearsals, concerts, tours, or studio recordings, we rent the perfect original celesta.

Our celesta

• Celesta SCHIEDMAYER, range 5 octaves from C3 – C8, perfect restored orchestra model, tuning A4 = 443 hz.
• Celesta MUSTEL, range 4 octaves, original instrument by Victor Mustel from 1906, tuning A4 = 442 hz (currently under restoration, expected to be available for hire from the end of 2025).
• Celesta KATZ, range 4.5 octaves, original instrument from 1960, tuning a’ = 440 Hz (currently under restoration, not available for rental.)

Rental of keyboard glockenspiel / Papageno bells

A keyboard glockenspiel, also called jeu de timbre á clavier, clavitimbre, campanelli a tastiera or strumento d’acciaio is specified in compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Magic Flute, Papageno). Also it is found in compositions like Claude Debussy (La Mer), George Frideric Handel (Saul, Acis and Galathea), Modest Mussorgsky (Pictures of an exhibition), Oliver Messiaen (Turangalîla) and many others.

The keyboard glockenspiels from our instrument rental

Keyboard Glockenspiel / Clavitimbre / jeu de timbre

Very rare MUSTEL keyboard glockenspiel / jeu de timbre á clavier / clavitimbre. A historic original instrument from Mustel / Paris. Range 3 1/3 octaves from C5 – E8. This unique master instrument was built by MUSTEL according to the most exacting specifications for the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and the sound was personally checked by the former chief conductor of the orchestra Wilhelm Furtwängler at MUSTEL in Paris. In the era of Herbert von Karajan, all recordings and concerts of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra were played exactly with this unique keyboard glockenspiel.

This keyboard glockenspiel is superbly restored and tuned to A4 = 443 hz.

Historic keyboard glockenspiel, historic Papageno bells of Mozart

Handmade copy of the original keyboard glockenspiel from 1795 using original historical parts, range 3 1/3 octaves, C5 – E8. The sound of this instrument is very brilliant, clear and far away from a celesta which was invented over 100 years after Mozart.

This keyboard glockenspiel is the “Strumento d’acciaio” which W.A. Mozart (Papageno / Magic Flute) dictated! We have it available with the original bars in the tuning A4 = 432 hz and also with bars made of old ringing silver steel from 1850 in the tuning A4 = 443 hz.

Celesta and keyboard glockenspiel rental for concert tour / orchestra travel

All our rental celesta and keyboard glockenspiels are packed in custom-made PREISSLER flight cases. They can be used – like all our rental instruments – not only for concerts in Berlin and the surrounding countryside of Brandenburg but as well as for entire concert tours / orchestra travels by truck transport or air cargo in Germany and Europe.

In certain exceptional cases, you can also rent a celesta or keyboard glockenspiel from us for concert use worldwide.