POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

'Clavioline' electronic keyboard with accessories by Henri Selmer & Company Ltd

Object No. 2004/116/1

The Clavioline was an electronic keyboard instrument that was invented by Constant Martin in France in 1947. By the 1950s its manufacture had been licensed to various companies in France, England, Germany and the USA. It offered musicians a different sound to other instruments available at the time, prior to the commercial introduction of the synthesizer in the late 1960s. Using only a single oscillator, the Clavioline was marketed as "The electronic wonder of this age!" and having "all the voices of the orchestra in a suitcase" . It was capable of producing sounds an octave higher or lower than played, extending the three octave range of its keyboard up to seven octaves. The Clavioline played a range of sounds or tone colours to approximate various orchestral instruments such as bowed strings, brass and woodwinds as well as plectrum and percussive instruments. However, it was its unique sound that gave a distinctive feature to several compositions by top performers such as Del Shannon on his 1961 hit "Runaway" (which used a modified Clavioline), The Tornadoes on "Telstar" in 1963 and later by John Lennon in June 1967 when recording "Baby, You're A Rich Man", with The Beatles. An unusual feature of the Clavioline was that it could be fixed beneath a standard piano keyboard and used in combination with the piano, though as a separate unit. This would enable a pianist to introduce different melodic sounds from its extensive range of tone colours played by the right hand whilst still maintaining an accompaniment on the piano with the left. It was also made to fit an adjustable purpose built stand and played as an instrument in its own right. Another feature was that it was easily transportable and could be packed away in a self-contained unit consisting of the keyboard and its own amplifier. The Clavioline is remembered as one of a number of electronic keyboard instruments that grew out of the electric organ. These instruments often had a unique sound and performed functions not available on the standard electric organs of the time, hence their popularity with various artists searching for a new and unique sound for their music. Another instrument that fits into this category is the Hohner Pianet, designed as a kind of electric piano or harpsichord and used during the 1960s by artists such as The Zombies, The Beatles and The Small Faces. Although a new and radical range of sounds was available to musicians with the introduction of the synthesizer, other keyboard instruments continued to be produced into the 1970s such as the Mellotron and the Clavinet which also produced distinctive sounds in their own right.

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Summary

Object Statement

Electronic keyboard with stand, powercord, amplifier and pamphlet, 'Clavioline', metal / plastic / textile / paper, designed by Constant Martin, Paris, France, made by Henri Selmer & Company Ltd, London, England, 1950-1965

Physical Description

Electronic keyboard, 'Clavioline', metal / plastic, Henri Selmer & Co Ltd, London, England, 1950-1965. 'Clavioline' electronic musical keyboard instrument (Concert model) consisting of keyboard, amplifier, leads, keyboard stand and brochure. Keyboard, leads and amplifier housed in one unit similar to a hard suitcase with leather carry handle and divides in two to form amplifier unit and storage section for keyboard and leads. Finished in two tone leatherette of dark brown at ends and light tweed in central section. Amplifier contains speaker behind brown mesh and grill. Below this is the on/off power switch and light, a socket for connecting keyboard to amp and a [fuse]. Mains lead is already attached. The keyboard unit is finished in a black metal housing with plastic black and white piano keys along the top and a series of black and white rocker switches along the front. The order of switches from left to right is: 4 black (Vibrato III, Vibrato II, Vibrato I, Amplitude +); 14 white (numbered 1 to 9 then 0, B, V, P, F); 4 black (Sub I P, Sub II P, Sub II F, Sub I F). Large flat area at top behind keyboard enables it to be attached beneath a piano keyboard. There is a knee operated volume lever beneath the keyboard unit. The collapsible metal stand consists of two sections; a black rectangular base with chromed tubular metal upright supports for upper section. The upper section has a black rectangular stand for the keyboard with two rods beneath which fit into the lower section. The height of the stand can be adjusted. The two sided colour brochure which features pictures of the instrument gives general information of what the Clavioline does, information about its power output and a list of suggested settings to produce the sounds of particular instruments. The brochure has been repaired with adhesive plastic and tape.

DIMENSIONS

Height

500 mm

Width

565 mm

Depth

260 mm

PRODUCTION

Notes

Produced in England by Henri Selmer & Co Ltd under licence from Constant Martin of France. Claviolines were also produced under licence in France by the Societe Le Clavioline, in the USA by Gibson and in Germany by Jorgensen Electronic. Although invented by Martin in 1947 it appears to have been put into production from the 1950s until possibly the mid 1960s. It is uncertain how many were produced.

HISTORY

Notes

The Clavioline was originally invented in 1947 in France by Constant Martin. This instrument was used by during the 1960s and 1970s used in small music groups that played at dance halls, receptions etc.

SOURCE

Credit Line

Gift of Michelle and Norm Pyne, 2004

Acquisition Date

27 July 2004

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