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.

Our keyboard glockenspiels

For the sake of originality and sonic authenticity, we have made a conscious decision to rent out historical keyboard glockenspiels. This is because the tone bars and mechanical components used long ago to build these instruments differ from those found in modern instruments. As a result, our instruments likely come closer to the sound envisioned by the composers of that era. For this reason, many well-known orchestras and famous conductors repeatedly request them from us and enjoy using them.

Keyboard Glockenspiel / Clavitimbre

The first original keyboard glockenspiel with a piano-shaped case, also known as the Clavitimbre. Invented by Alphonse Mustel, the grandson of Victor Mustel, the famous inventor of the celesta, and handcrafted in France by Société Mustel S.A.

Of the total of just 150 instruments built between 1949 and 1955, we have three superbly restored examples in our instrument rental collection. Each has a unique sound and an exciting story about how it found its way to us.

Keyboard Glockenspiel / jeu de timbre

We are very proud to own a truly one-of-a-kind keyboard glockenspiel / Jeu de timbre à clavier / Clavitimbre. A historic original instrument by MUSTEL of Paris, with a range of 3 1/3 octaves from C5 to E8.

This masterpiece was handcrafted by MUSTEL to the most exacting specifications specifically for the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. During its construction, the instrument’s intonation was personally assessed in Paris by the orchestra’s former chief conductor, Wilhelm Furtwängler. During the Herbert von Karajan era, all recordings and concerts of the orchestra were played exactly with this keyboard glockenspiel. On the back, it still proudly bears its old inventory number and the sign “BPhO,” which stood for the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra at the time.

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

Historic keyboard glockenspiel from 1839 / Mozart’s Papageno glockenspiel

Handcrafted in 1839 by the “Claviaturglockenspielbau-Anstalt” in Langensalza/Thuringia for the Royal Court Opera in Berlin, now the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. This keyboard glockenspiel survived the great fire of the opera house in August 1843, in which it burned to the ground. During World War II, the instrument survived several air raids, during which the opera house again burned and partially collapsed. It still bears visible burn marks and water stains from firefighting efforts, which we have professionally preserved for historical reasons. It is perfectly restored and tuned to A4 = 443 Hz. Its range is 3 1/3 octaves, C5 – E8.

This keyboard glockenspiel is undoubtedly the “Strumento d’acciaio“ prescribed by W.A. Mozart in the autograph score of The Magic Flute!

The sound of this unique instrument is clear, confident, and far away from a celesta.

Historic keyboard glockenspiel from 1775

Handcrafted copy of the original from 1795, using original historical components. Range of 3 1/3 octaves, C5 – E8. The sound of this wonderful instrument is very brilliant and clear. It is incomparable to a celesta, which, as is well known, was invented by Victor Mustel over 100 years after Mozart.

This keyboard glockenspiel is perfectly suited for Mozart’s Papageno in The Magic Flute, as well as for works by other composers that call for a powerful sound from a keyboard glockenspiel. It has tone bars made of antique silver steel from 1850, tuned to A4 = 443 Hz.

Under certain conditions, it is also possible to rent it with the original historical tone bars from 1795, tuned to the historical A4 = 432 Hz. In this case we need sufficient lead time to make the necessary changes.

Keyboard glockenspiel rental for concert tours of orchestras from all over the world

All our 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. Whether it’s Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich, or Barcelona, Amsterdam or Toulouse.

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

If you are looking to rent a celesta instead of a historic keyboard glockenspiel, you can find these instruments here: Celesta