![]() ![]() ![]() Unlike other calliopes before or since, Denny's Improved Kalliope let the player control the steam pressure, and therefore the volume of the music, while playing. In 1859, he demonstrated this instrument in Crystal Palace, London. Denny, attempted to market an "Improved Kalliope" in Europe, but it did not catch on. Later, an employee of Stoddard's American Music, Arthur S. In 1851, William Hoyt of Dupont, Indiana claimed to have conceived of a device similar to Stoddard's calliope, but he never patented it. Stoddard of Worcester, Massachusetts patented the calliope on October 9, 1855, though his design echoes previous concepts, such as an 1832 instrument called a steam trumpet, later known as a train whistle. 1901) built by George Kratz and used on the showboat French's New Sensation at The Mariners' Museum History Calliope on the Minne-Ha-Ha, a stern-wheeler on Lake George, New York Kitch Greenhouse Steam Calliope at the Ohio Historical Society – July, 2006 Fairground calliope trailer being hauled by a U.S.-built traction engine – New Orleans Mardi Gras 2007 Steam calliope (c. A calliope may have anywhere from 25 to 67 whistles, but 32 is traditional for a steam calliope. Since the pitch of each note is largely affected by the temperature of the steam, accurate tuning is nearly impossible however, the off-pitch notes (particularly in the upper register) have become something of a trademark of the steam calliope. The whistles of a calliope are tuned to a chromatic scale, although this process is difficult and must be repeated often to maintain quality sound. Some calliopes can also be played via a MIDI interface. Some instruments have both a keyboard and a mechanism for automated operation, others only one or the other. Mechanical operation may be by a drum similar to a music box drum, or by a roll similar to that of a player piano. This was in part to resist the heat and moisture of the steam, but also for the golden shine of the highly polished keys.Ĭalliopes can be played by a player at a keyboard or mechanically. Steam instruments often had keyboards made from brass. Other circus calliopes were self-contained, mounted on a carved, painted and gilded wagon pulled by horses, but the presence of other steam boilers in the circus meant that fuel and expertise to run the boiler were readily available. The traction engine could also supply electric power for lighting, and tow the calliope in the circus parade, where it traditionally came last. Circus calliopes were sometimes installed in steam-driven carousels, or supplied with steam from a traction engine. ![]() Riverboats supplied steam from their propulsion boilers. ![]() In both cases, a steam supply was readily available for other purposes. In the age of steam, the steam calliope was particularly used on riverboats and in circuses. The air-driven calliope is sometimes called a calliaphone, the name given to it by Norman Baker, but the "Calliaphone" name is registered by the Miner Company for instruments produced under the Tangley name. The steam calliope is also known as a steam organ ( orgue à vapeur in Quebec) or steam piano ( piano à vapeur in Quebec). Musically, the only expression possible is the pitch, rhythm, and duration of the notes. There is no way to vary tone or loudness. Even some small calliopes are audible for miles. Problems playing this file? See media help.Ī calliope (see below for pronunciation) is an American and Canadian musical instrument that produces sound by sending a gas, originally steam or, more recently, compressed air, through large whistles-originally locomotive whistles.Ī calliope is typically very loud. ![]()
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