Added: Nov 18, 2008
From: robhoudin
Duration: 2:9
www.automates-anciens.comLa Joueuse de Tympanon est un automate du XVIIIe siècle, se trouvant aujourd'hui au Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers.Il a été restauré pour la 1ère fois par ROBERT-HOUDIN en 1864.This automaton was created in the 18th century and restored for the first time by ROBERT-HOUDIN in 1864.© Til productions - Jean-Luc MullerTiré des bonus du DVD "ROBERT-HOUDIN une vie de magicien"
Channel: Film
Tags: antoinette automate automaton houdin marie marie-antoinette robert-houdin tympanon
Rating: 5.00 (45 ratings) Views: 18898' favoriteCount='165 Comments: 25
mothberries Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Oh my God, I would LOVE to have a replica of that!
shaunathansprocket Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - who has to die for me to aquire this fine object of pre-steampunkery.
LaMesure Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Vous aimez les objets d'art du XVIIIe siècle ? Consultez mon nouveau blog : lamesureInscrivez votre adresse email à sa newsletter afin de recevoir par courriel, une fois par semaine, une présentation des nouveaux thèmes.Je reste à votre entière disposition ...
snotrocketeer Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - holey moley - even the eyes moved! She peeked at us out of the corner of her eye!CREEPY yet cool.... helloooo uncanny valley
KThompson2006 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - is that a real instrument? whats it called
HartfordTommy Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - It's called in English, a hammered dulcimer.This is a true percussion instrument, the predecessor of the piano, which is the same as you see here, but with automatic ally tripped hammers via keys. This instrument (made in a full range of sizes) offered -dynamic- control, as did the piano (1708), unlike the "monotone" of the harpsichord.
DudleyMMoore Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Dear god, next time, a FULLY restored unit would have its strings in tune? Absolutly amazing bit of history in Automate.
hermanopaz Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - No... absolutely not.. it's name is not Hammered Dulcimer, but "Tympanon" (La Joueuse de Tympanon means: The Tympanon Player). Is not the predecessor of piano nor harpsichord. In fact... if you search youtube with the word: Tympanon, you'll see an actual tympanon.
hermanopaz Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - No... absolutely not.. it's name is not Hammered Dulcimer, but "Tympanon" (La Joueuse de Tympanon means: The Tympanon Player). Is not the predecessor of piano nor harpsichord. In fact... if you search youtube with the word: Tympanon, you'll see an actual tympanon.
HartfordTommy Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - OK, so "tympanon" is the French word for hammered dulcimer.It is a percussion instrument with far more in common with the piano than with the harpsichord, yes?Now, the clavichord looks much the same as a harpsichord, but, while it is percussive, it's no piano-a clavichord was and is an amazingly delicate, expressive thing. I enjoyed this debate. We're both right.
HartfordTommy Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - see the wikipedia (english) for the entry, "tympanon".It's French for what we called then and now, "hammered dulcimer." No matter that this form of the French is elegant in the extreme, in English, it is a dulcimer, it is percussive, too, as both names denote.I have not studied these things for almost thirty years. So to be sure, I looked up in the Wikipedia.I'm a retired concert piano tech and former conservator of ancient instruments of a private collection.
HartfordTommy Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - herman below, my responses are, unfortunately, in reverse order, 3, 2, 1. You stated emphatically: "Is not the predecessor of piano nor harpsichord."It is, most assuredly, the ancestor of both, and of the clavichord as well. The clavichord: it was as quiet as a mouse, and so delicate. And so it passed away in time. But quite a wonderful sound of full dynamic range: whisper to sotto voce, requiring a clavichordist's touch to even play at all.
HartfordTommy Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - DudleyM below: Yes, you'd think so. OTOH, such a tiny instrument is difficult to get into,and keep in fine tune. Also, some or all of the clinkers are almost surely (to my ear, and I confess, I'm guessing by logic)mis-strikes of adjacent strings--not gross mal-tuning. Another thing that would clean it up greatly, would be if the strikes did not double, bah-bup (hammer bounce). I'd think that's a matter of fine adjustment. My opinions, these.
dulcajack Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Beautiful and awe inspiring.Thanks for posting. Jack
JHVH1 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Its the same thing. This is from the smithsonian:"The hammered dulcimer probably originated in the Middle East about 900 A.D. and is related to the much older psaltery. It spread from there across North Africa and was brought into Europe by the Spanish Moors during the 12th century A.D. It is possible that hammered dulcimers were played even earlier than this in Ireland, where they were called 'tympanons.'"
djoulsdrummer93 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - putin un truc comme ça chez moi jfairai des cauchemar serieu, c chelou davoir reprodui lautomate ça fai comme si on avai empaillé quelqun....
Agotaku Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Beautiful ;-;
Agotaku Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - The song have a name? o.o
jmm1233 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - i want one of them :)
turtlegurllie13 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - that is pretty amazing for the 1700s!i cant believe though that it was abandoned at one point
sollidsnake1 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - automaton are amazing mechines and its hard to belive that is was made a long time ago imagine what we can make of it now with all the stuff we have now!
Mikey84 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - This is what I call art :)Someone should tune the strings, though...
inspirationmagnus Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Exelente piece, of a spectacular art I have infinitely appreciable
sharlene07 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - whoever abandoned this is pretty stupid!! mikey84 is right.. it is art
richragsdale Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - beautiful