The Orchestrion “Konzërt-Phonolist” (Phonoliszt-Violina Model B) created by Hupfeld, Ludwig, A.G. combines piano and violin mechanisms. This unique instrument provides the possibility to reproduce a wide range of diverse musical pieces, in which strings to a piano accompaniment play the melody line.
The recordings of the compositions of the Viennese classical school prominent composers, the romantic era opera composers and the authors who created popular music in the first half of the 20th century comprised the repertoire of “Orchestrion “Konzërt-Phonolist”. The versatile material demonstrates wide possibilities of the orchestrion - both entertaining and concert, allowing the listener to enjoy the musical masterpieces.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven are the representatives of the Viennese classical school of music, who created their works in the second half of the 18th and first quarter of the 19th centuries. The highest musical style developed by the composers suggested a simple but perfect form. Many new instrumental genres appeared thanks to the creative work of the Viennese classical composers/ They are a sonata, a concert, a symphony, and the compilation of a sonata-symphonic form.
Three works in the musical repertoire of “Orchestrion “Konzërt-Phonolist represent the Viennese Classical School. They are the most famous work by Mozart - Serenade No. 13 in G-major, or “Little Night Serenade”, namely, its fourth part - Rondo. Initially, the work had a five-part structure, however, the minuet, which was between the first and second parts, was lost. Mozart's Quintet in A-Major K581 for clarinet and strings of 1789, the second part, larghetto, and Beethoven's romance opus 40 for violin and orchestra No. 1, written in 1802, were arranged for piano and violin.
The works by Giacomo Puccini, Richard Wagner, Franz Lehar, Heinrich Berthe and Ralph Benatzky represent opera and operetta genres. Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) – the Italian composer, representative of the Verismo moment in opera. The opera La Bohème, which premiered on February 1, 1896, brought worldwide fame to the Milan Conservatory graduate. The key works of Giacomo Puccini are the operas Manon Lescaut, Tosca, Madame Butterfly, Gianni Schicchi and Turandot.
The basic principle of the musical action development, the peculiarities of Puccini’s harmonies and the absence of overtures are characteristic features of the composer’s works that made them distinctive and recognizable. Puccini's creative work is represented by several compositions - a quodlibet from the operas Madame Butterfly and La Bohème.
The German musician Richard Wagner (1813-1883) went down in history of music as a composer-reformer reconsidered the opera genre. The leitmotif technique, the principle of the through dramatic development, the transformation of music into an “endless melody” - these innovative solutions made Richard Wagner one of the iconic opera creators. More details about the composer’s innovations are in the thematic article Richard Wagner. Commemorating the 205th firth anniversary in the section REVIEWS. The compilation includes Elsas Traum from the opera Lohengrin.
The founder of the Neo-Vienna operetta movement Franz Lehar (1870-1948), was rigorously musically educated - the composer graduated from the Prague Conservatory as a violinist. During his creative activity, Lehar composed 20 operettas; the most prominent were The Merry Widow (Die lustige Witwe), Gypsy Love (Zigeunerliebe), The Count of Luxembourg and Giuditta. The waltz basis was preserved in the Neo Vienna movement. At the same time, it was supplemented by the elements of Hungarian, Romanian and Slovak folklore pieces and melodies of the early 20th century popular genres - foxtrot, ragtime, shimmy and tango. This enriched the operettas musical language. The concerted number “Ich hol Dir vom Himmel das Blau” from the operetta “The Merry Widow” is included in the compilation
The song of the Austrian composer Ralph Benatzky (1884-1957) Ein Wiener Walzer is presented as an arrangement for violin and piano. The author of a large number of operettas and smash-hits, Antonín Dvořák disciple, Ralph Benatzky created the extensive musical repertoire, popular among his contemporaries. Prinzchens Frühlingserwachen, Casanova, The Three Musketeers, The Posh Girl are among his famous operettas.
The most remarkable composition of the Austro-Hungarian composer Heinrich Berthe (1857–1924) is the operetta- pasticcio Das Dreimaderlhaus. Pasticcio kind of music is a compilation various parts of works by other composers. Initially, Berthe wrote his operettas, borrowing only one concerted number from Franz Schubert’s vocal cycle Die schöne Müllerin. Later, Berthe created a full-fledged pasticcio from Schubert’s works at the insistence of customers. Being extremely popular, the operetta was staged in 60 countries and was translated into many languages.
The diverse repertoire covers various milestones of musical history. The possibility to demonstrate the dynamic marks and musical phrase marking richness, the sophisticated melody and sounding uniqueness - all these advantages make the Orchestrion created by Hupfeld, Ludwig, A.G. an exceptional musical instrument worthy of the highest ratings of listeners.