Unusual Instruments

Some operas require unusual instruments for the orchestra. Most often they’re instruments that were popular in the composer’s lifetime that were supplanted by more modern versions or just plain went out of use. When that happens, Pittsburgh Opera calls on music administrator Christopher Powell to track down the instruments in time for orchestra rehearsals.

Mozart called for two basset horns in this opera. A type of alto clarinet, they were developed by Anton Stadler, a Bohemian clarinetist who arrived in Vienna in the 1780s. The Freemasons called wind instruments “columns of harmony” and considered them superior to stringed instruments. In the Magic Flute, the basset horns are heard only in Sarastro’s scenes, since he represents the highest of Masonic ideals. Powell scoured the country until he finally located a pair available from the University of Michigan.

The keyed glockenspiel is very important because Papageno plays it to enchant the animals and to summon his beloved Papagena. Any old glockenspiel won’t do for Pittsburgh Opera, so Chris Powell was happy to find the beautiful instrument that Santa Fe Opera used for their last production of this opera. It comes from Percussion World in Iowa.

A similar keyed glockenspiel from Jennings Organ Co. in England

Papageno needs panpipes that can play very high notes in the piccolo range. A company called Lark in the Morning was the only one who could provide such a specialized set of pipes. Check out this link to see how many different types of panpipes there are!

Top