A truly “heavenly” instrument
Today, it is difficult to imagine an orchestra, music conservatory, theater or broadcasting studio without the heavenly sound of the celesta instrument. The celesta musical instrument (also called “celeste”), which was invented in 1886 in Paris by Victor Mustel, has delighted the world of music for over 130 years with its unique sound, inspiring people time and again. The celesta became world famous for its part in the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” from the Nutcracker Suite by P.I. Tchaikovsky, who immediately fell in love with the magical sound of the instrument after he first heard it in 1891 during a visit to Paris.
The extraordinary sound generation with felt hammers, steel sound plates and wooden resonators is still unique today and Schiedmayer Celesta GmbH is the only company in the world to manufacture the Celesta.
The celesta instrument (from the French “cèleste” meaning “heavenly”) is no longer limited to the sound world of the Romantic period but is also used in chamber music ensembles, in pop, rock and jazz music, and often in film music. The unmistakable sound of the celesta has enchanted movie-goers in blockbuster films such as “Harry Potter”, “Star Wars” and “La La Land”.