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 reasons of originality and sonic authenticity, we have consciously chosen to rent out historical keyboard glockenspiels. The steel used in the construction of these instruments long ago, as well as the mechanical components, are quite different from those of modern instruments. This allows our instruments to come much closer to the sound ideals of the composers of that era. They are frequently requested and used by many well-known orchestras and renowned conductors.

Keyboard Glockenspiel / Clavitimbre

The original first keyboard glockenspiel, also called Clavitimbre. Invented by Alphonse Mustel the grandson of the inventor of the celesta, Victor Mustel, handcrafted in France by the Société Mustel S.A..

Of the only 150 instruments made between 1949 and 1955, we have three superbly restored examples available for rent. Each has a unique sound and a very special story of how it came to be with us.

Keyboard Glockenspiel / 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 handcrafted by MUSTEL according to the most demanding specifications for the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. During the instruments manufacture, the intonation was personally reviewed in Paris by the former chief conductor of the orchestra, Wilhelm Furtwängler. 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 from 1839 / Mozart’s Papageno glockenspiel

Handcrafted in 1839 by the “Claviaturglockenspielbau-Anstalt” in Langenzalza/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 traces of fire damage, 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 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.

Keyboard glockenspiel rental for concert tour / orchestra travel

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.

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