Description
Yamaha 5 Octave Celeste for Hire
Range: F-F
Yamaha celesta's offer many advantages. First, because the metal sound plates are wider than the strings used in pianos, the plates are laid out on two different levels, which are in turn connected by rods. In other respects, however, the action is the same as on a grand piano. The instrument also offers a wide dynamic range, allowing for soft balanced chords, loud expressive play, trills, glissandos, and other play techniques that are typical of grand pianos but were never before available on celestas.
For some years now there has been a dispute between Schiedmayer and Yamaha over the exact construction of a celeste as Schiedmayer's view is that the Yamaha instrument is a glockenspiel with a grand piano action. Unsurprisingly Yamaha take a different view.
Secondly, the Yamaha celesta offers full piano-size keys. White keys have Ivorite surfaces and the damper pedal is aligned as a pianist would expect, slightly right of center.
Third, the remarkable presence of the instrument comes out of Yamaha's long experience in developing percussion instruments capable of asserting themselves within orchestral environments. The instrument uses high-carbon tempered steel plates tuned to high precision, as well as original maple resonance boxes designed to make effective use of Helmholtz resonance.
Lastly, the adjustment of action and hammers is essentially the same as on a grand piano. Any problems that occur just before a performance can be quickly corrected by a piano technician.
Yamaha celestas are well known for their excellent playability, and are actively used by the Vienna Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, the NHK Symphony Orchestra, and by many other orchestras throughout the world.