The Nutcracker's celesta with Kelly Zuercher

[@SevenFootPelican]

This is such a magical instrument. Wow. I feel like it should be used more in music!

[@exoticcar5482]

SevenFoot Pelican It used to actually be used a LOT in orchestras of the 30s-60s but around the 70s pretty much all the celesta manufacturers quietly discontinued them and the super hard-to-acquire Schiedmayer models are the only ones available today

[@DaveDexterMusic]

There is a problem in using anything beautiful and unusual, especially percussive and bright, too much in a piece - it stops being unique and becomes just another texture. I could write celesta and glockenspiel lines to unison string melodies for days, but restraining myself with these and many other instruments makes the moments I finally use them more impactful.

[@christopherpederson1021]

It’s expensive as fuck and weighs a ton.

[@PalKrammer]

I looked this instrument up in Wikipedia and was surprised at the songs it appeared in - Cherish and Maggie May - to name just two!

[@exoticcar5482]

@@christopherpederson1021 Wasn't always that way, but unfortunately it is the case today now that Schiedmayer is pretty much the only company making them. The celesta in this video is a Simone Bros model and even when adjusted for inflation, it costed fractions of what the Schiedmayer models today cost back when they made them in the 30s-50s and plus it's lighter and imo sounds way nicer. Really a shame so many manufacturers stopped making celestas

[@carmenkeith1621]

Hedwig's Theme from Harry Potter starts with the celesta

[@danceballetacro]

checking this out

[@metalheadjock3513]

Not only is the main Harry Potter theme composed for the Celeste, it's written in the same key as the Sugar Plum Fairy theme...E minor. Tchaikovsky was the first composer to write for celesta...that piece being the Sugar Plum Fairy theme. Other great examples are in Respighi's, "Pines of Rome" ( in the catacombs theme accompaniment), and "On the Trail" from Grofe's "Grand Canyon Suite". Listen also, to what Ravel did - pure heaven - in the Sunrise portion of, "Daphnis et Chloe"....masterful orchestrations.

[@shaldana]

Violet -Violet: no one said this was Harry Potter. You might wanna read that again.

[@oakpineranch]

Reread the post.

[@wolfblaide]

Actually, it's a modified celesta in the Harry Potter movie soundtracks -- a sampled celesta blended with a DX7 bell sound to make it sound a little more rounded. At least in the first few movies. From what I understand (although they never really 100% confirmed), they used the CineSamples sampled instrument, and probably the Spitfire Audio one also at different places.

[@randomuser1105]

The piano of angels.

[@Aluciel286]

My mind has been blown. I never knew what this instrument was even though I've heard it many, many times. Such a beautiful sound!

[@metalheadjock3513]

The Celesta's voice is also very capable of conveying many other emotions: Tragic: Final measures of Largo from Shostakovich's 5th Symphony. Comedic: Solo and immitation of Donkey braying in Grofe's "On the Trail". Haunting: "Neptune"from Holst's "The Planets", (my personal fave). Sumptuous: The Sunrise sequence from Ravel's "Daphnis and Chloe" (at rehearsal number 168 in the score). Stunning.

[@DaneBryantFrazier]

What a wonderful instrument. Great playing too.

[@vampyros1]

She plays this enchanting instrument beautifully.

[@LadyMoonstar6601]

can you describe what a celesta looks like? as I have no sight. great video

[@LadyMoonstar6601]

Velcro DeClue :) thank you

[@jaime52]

No strings as in pianos, but metal pieces that sounds like little bells. Example: plum fairy Nutcrackers. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celesta

[@EisforEvil]

+Annie Mooney How do you know what we typing then?

[@LadyMoonstar6601]

EisforEvil i use a software on my computer that reads what is on screen as it comes up, like letters, punctuation marks, and reads them as i scrole down whatever i'm reading. it reads documents, emails, spread sheets etc. it is called n v d a

[@sotongtian]

+Annie Mooney celesta has only 4 octaves(5 C notes), compared to piano. Much more like a electric keyboard. Let me know if you wish to know more :)

[@as.in.the.days.of.noah.]

What a lovely sound! It does make one feel magical.

[@aydanrzayeva6210]

I think the melody from the Sugar Plum Fairy encompasses the sound of celesta better than any other melody.

[@xylopiano3]

It wasn't until I watched this video that I learned that it's pronounced "chelesta." I always thought it was pronounced "selesta."

[@celiagarciagarcia]

+Xylo Piano It is actually pronounced with "s" sound, as it was invented by a French man. "Ch" would be the Italian pronunciation (as in cello) but there is nothing Italian about the celesta :-)

[@irokosalei5133]

Kind of like the concertina

[@200919491952]

same

[@annnlonggg]

Probably because of the French word 'celeste' (with an 'e'), it is pronounced with an 's', but I think because it's written 'celesta' with an 'a', people confuse it for Italian, and so mistakenly pronounce it in an Italian fashion.

[@brucecampbell6698]

But spelled CELESTE....

[@NReese-if1nm]

Beautiful instrument. I just attended the San Francisco production of "The Nutcracker" yesterday evening, and it's great to know what instrument created some of the magical music.

[@scaper8]

I'm pretty sure that a duo with this and a glass armonica would open some interdimensional portal to some sort of magical fae realm.

[@Wonderhussy]

googling that now...see u in the other realm!

[@laurab9867]

I never heard of this instrumental. The sound is sooo pure... truly magical! It sounds like chimes but it's a different type of percussion instrument. Amazing!

[@jacklambert1521]

It's such a magical sound. If a piano and a harp had a baby, it would be the celesta.

[@Mattdylan101]

thank you for playing mr. rogers.

[@PalKrammer]

Thank you for demonstrating this wonderful instrument so well.

[@sparklemonkey11]

Just learned about this today. Im impressed. Thats a mighty fine instrument.

[@jamespendris3547]

A wonderful sound !!

[@GreenpeacerLiz56]

OH MY GOODNESS, IT DOES SOUND MAGICAL. I love it.

[@vtorialyn]

Wow...just beautiful!

[@musicteacherkak]

Thank you! Excellent demonstration and instructive! Played beautifully!

[@jacquelinelanda1084]

You play it beautifully.

[@jeannenahan3618]

THANK YOU. The one youtube video that pronounces it CORRECTLY!!

[@chrisperyagh]

Really? As it's a French invention, you ought to consult them as to its correct pronunciation. How do you pronounce the word 'celestial'?

[@rebeccaconnelly9369]

Thank you for this excellent video; I can't wait to show it to my students!

[@lost...733]

It's just such a great sound >.

[@MartyInLa]

I think I've found my new favorite instrument. Thank you!

[@curtpiazza1688]

Beautiful instrument!

[@igotosleepat9pm86]

It makes such beautiful sound, I wondered why it's not popular...

[@exoticcar5482]

It actually used to be really common in orchestras and music in general throughout the 30s-60s but for some reason pretty much all the manufacturers stopped making them in the 70s

[@SkittleflakeKitty]

Dis is mah fav instrument.

[@pg9193]

"Astral Observatory" from Majora's Mask would sound magical on the Celesta!

[@OrchardcottagefarmCo]

Absolutely charming!

[@kraken138]

One of the most famous uses of this instrument in recent years is the Hedwig's Theme from the Harry potter movies, by John Williams.

[@exoticcar5482]

Acttually that's not 100% celesta heard in that. They took a celesta sample note and did some midi effects and added a DX7 patch to enhance it.

[@markbrophy5454]

The celesta is used in the intro to Pink Floyd's song Time from The Dark Side of the Moon album.

[@CatholicRishi]

Super-cool! Thanks for the video.

[@HouseJawn]

Thank you so much for making this video 🥰

[@thecuttlekid2758]

i cried when she played the mr rogers theme 😭

[@dairebarefoot6763]

Lol the low notes on the instrument are so loud compared to the highs that it sounded really weird. Almost like a reharmonization.

[@BlackDut5]

why why

[@caraminez]

I did too! What the heck!

[@OneWhoLivesThere]

That's a testament to the profound power of Mr. Rogers. I've been watching him a lot lately.

[@jspihlman]

How did I not connect that Mr. Roger's Neighborhood theme song was the celeste!!

[@200919491952]

It’s very cool like the sound it makes

[@valentineg8617]

This is amazing and expensive but amazing

[@jemma_palma]

i love this, now i want one

[@robmoir7524]

magnificent thank you Kelly

[@paulsmith1807]

Love it ❤

[@MsDana-mo9fp]

Fairies, angels, & glitter!!!!

[@iCyclone]

Nice two-minute crash course on what the celesta is. Good job!

[@bluecanary1note]

Buddy Holly's song 'Every Day' features the celesta.

[@issythestar1117]

this is so beautiful

[@douro20]

Of course it was one of these which was played in the intro music for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, by none other than the virtuoso jazz pianist John Costa. I believe that one, however, was a larger one than this.

[@exoticcar5482]

You are absolutely correct. However I doubt it was a larger one than the Simone Bros model in this video. I actually found a handful of photos of Costa's real work setup on the neighborhood set, and it is indeed a 4 octave model. To me it actually looked like this exact Simone celesta here.

[@bobholmes4215]

celesta /sɪˈlɛstə/ or celeste /sɪˈlɛst/ (with the 'c' like 'celestial' in English)

[@seiph80]

Yep, that's how I pronounce it, second one

[@ittehgapsytterb]

Love this video!!! You play very well.

[@danceballetacro]

i love the celesta

[@huberfloover]

I wonder how the celesta would sound in a musical piece together with the oil (steel) drums they use in Caribbean music, both being metal percussion type instruments.

[@dominanoctis5727]

And at the beginning Hedwigs theme in Harry Potter right?😁

[@Cristian-vl8pg]

Domina Noctis YEP!!!

[@titoturtle5228]

and hidden in the rest of the theme. its name is Hedwig's Theme.

[@j.p.westwater2334]

you'll find a whole bunch of Tchaikovsky influences in the Harry Potter score and other john Williams scores

[@exoticcar5482]

Actually not fully. They took a celesta sample note and did some midi effects and added some DX7 patch enhancements with it

[@rkgk1517]

If you like this instrument, look up オルゴール・ファンタジア on KZbin... it is a whole CD of nice celesta tracks by a Japanese soundtrack composer

[@Bahross]

So beautiful

[@princessmichael7]

awesome

[@GabrielMunera]

beautiful

[@eduardogonzalez-jq2lc]

maravilloso instrumento!!!!

[@roberttelarket4934]

Never knew of this instrument till I heard a bio very recently 10/29/23 on Buddy Holly who loved it.

[@percyvolnar8010]

Thats a VERY BRIGHT sounding celesta! Good lord!

[@Roderick_Legato]

0:51 The piano is also a percussion instrument.

[@TheFamousMockingbird]

Yeah and its strings are metal. That part was weird

[@heronimousbrapson863]

In the 1960's, NHK shortwave radio broadcasts from Japan played their identification jingle on a celesta.

[@WheresYourToque]

Hypnotic effect

[@mikeg888]

Holst's The Planets uses the Celesta throughout notably in Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn.

[@puuxexil]

Neptune bro. ;)

[@Roderick_Legato]

@@puuxexil And Venus.

[@sephoratrevino7033]

Omg this lady is like, so cool

[@lindseywolthuis9535]

I feel bad saying this because I’m sure this was not Tchaikovsky intentions, but the sugar plum fairy song has always sounded haunting to me, and I think half of that was the choice of instrument. It’s a very spooky sound in my mind. I think about hedwigs theme from Harry Potter, which I believe uses it too, and in a chilling way I think.

[@paruhblgen4222]

Tchaikovsky discovered this instrument while on trip in Europe, he kept it secret until his work was released

[@Iofflight78]

I would to have one of those. Samples really don't cut it.

[@exoticcar5482]

syzygywell Good luck with that. This over half century old Simone celeste is EXTREMELY RARE to find. AntiquityMusic may have some on sale idk, but either way, they're extremely expensive if someone even bothers to sell one

[@wrathaloss6091]

1:18 oh- sheit... that's why I like it so much

[@TV-zd7ed]

good!!!!!!

[@tubarao97]

Nice video!

[@angelomedi]

Sunday Morning another example, The Velvet Underground

[@marquezmargaret0]

Angelo Medina Buddy Holly, love like ours

[@aidanflanagan9322]

I was just scrolling through the comments to see if anyone knew about velvet underground. This is why I love music, musicians, and music lovers. Just seeing this in april 2019, sir you have made my day!

[@williamm374]

Delacroix said that Chopin's music made heaven envious of the Earth. The same might be said of Tchaikovsky.

[@meteorascarletmidnight9985]

This is lovely i wish i can make one of does but i dont know how TwT

[@jacekpuszko8764]

Celesta reminds me music box

[@아메리카노-b4u]

Do you know how to buy celesta?? Its sound is so nice!!! I wanna buy celesta >.

[@bertvdlast]

細川琴乃 As far as i know the only manufacturer is Schiedmayer in Germany. They make 3,5 and 5,5 octave models. The 5,5 will cost you about $ 40,000!

[@exoticcar5482]

Huge shame these days how incredibly rare they've become. This model was made by the Simone Bros company around the 40s and back then, it only cost $500-$900. For some reason, all the manufacturers quit making them around the 60s/70s and they're one of the rarest instruments

[@bertvdlast]

ElevatorMan5482 ElevExperiencing Productions. It’s a shame but understandable. There isn’t very much music written for it. I don’t even think that every symphony orchestra has one.

[@exoticcar5482]

@@bertvdlast But back in the 40s/50s it was actually pretty common to have a celesta in an orchestra

[@exoticcar5482]

@@bertvdlast Even a lot of popular music in the 30s-50s used it as well

[@maxpowr90]

Holst's The Planets: Mercury: The Winged Messenger; is another great example of the celesta.

[@dreimann]

The theme from Edward Scissorhands used this quite prominently.

[@asyatuzkaya7578]

wow

[@rosieaudios6749]

is that the same instrument that's in the introduction to "have yourself a merry little Christmas" the judy garland version btw???

[@rocolicious]

She actually plays it at 1:40, you’re welcome.

[@porcelaineh]

does a celesta make load or soft sounds i dunno im dumb

[@artistevivien]

Oh my god. All this time I thought it was bells or triangles or something. I feel ignorant.

[@EGM777]

@Vivien: Don't be ashamed for your ignorance. There are many possibilities to produce this sound. And Celesta is a very expensive and heavy instrument. (→Schiedmayer)

[@jul3249]

Anyone can tell me why her celesta is so small? All the celesta I've seen were almost twice the size

[@exoticcar5482]

The newer models are bigger for some reason but this is an older model made by the Simone Brothers back in the 40s/50s and at the time, not only were celestas a lot more common in music but they were primarily four octaves. The newer models probably use that design to extend the wooden resonators out, but imo this model actually sounds more beautiful than the modern ones

[@antoinettedepasquale5336]

Is this a celesta or a keyboard glockenspiel?

[@exoticcar5482]

Antoinette Depasquale A celesta. The softer, mellower timbre gives it away

[@davedexter1583]

Could I just . . . buy this woman? Would that be wrong? Have her in my studio so I could at any moment demand "G MINOR SCALE, KELLY"?

[@howardzimmer6452]

Does it have same hammer action as a concert grand?

[@seiph80]

No it doesn't because it has resonating boxes under the metal bars so it's a bit different since it's not hitting strings

[@chrisperyagh]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/raCsp3uIfMx7fbs

[@nobbysmith572]

Sounds like an ice-cream van.

[@boosmansion1211]

❤❤❤❤

[@catsupchutney]

I always thought the Nutcracker lead was played with a xylophone.

[@stevenrowan9244]

How many keys does this instrument have?

[@victorbahzad6194]

how am I 28 years old and never heard about this instrument before?

[@exoticcar5482]

Victor Bahzad It's extremely rare to come across ever since they stopped mass producing them around the 60s/70s

[@TheFamousMockingbird]

Piano is a percussion instrument also piano strings are metal, either a type of carbon or copper.

[@javiermedina5313]

this instrument feels like magic, the sound is like from another dimension

[@dimitrahilakou321]

we want an 88 keys versionnnnnn!!!!

[@exoticcar5482]

Dimitra Hilakou Idk about that, but a 5-octave version is currently being made today

[@MrSweelinck]

... And Ravel's Bolero at measure 148 - 165

[@유보라-m3f]

와우 브라보

[@ozgurkerem]

ni ye bu ingilizce?

[@handol9932]

1:41 sugar plum fairy

[@nichtimmer9134]

Please make more videos who you PLAY SOMETHING on it!!! Only playing! Thanks for infos but please play it in some new videos without a Comments! You play well and i love to hear it but give to less videos from that beautifull underated Instrument!!!! Thanks!!!!

[@TheWizardYeof]

I'm just here cause of Lapis

[@niesamowiterayson4594]

Yeah me too

[@grabyjones720]

Aren't we all

[@TheWizardYeof]

That's my line..

[@TheWizardYeof]

Also, Rayson, how's Poland?

[@niesamowiterayson4594]

I'm never actually been there but my mother's side of the family is Polish