Celesta

The celesta (IPA {{IPA|}} or {{IPA|}}), sometimes spelled celeste, is a keyboard musical instrument found in symphony orchestras. The keys on the celesta are connected to rods which strike metal bars similar to those found on the glockenspiel. It also usually has wooden resonators.

Related Topics:
IPA - Keyboard - Musical instrument - Symphony - Orchestra - Glockenspiel - Resonator

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Some notable musical works featuring the celesta:

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• "Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy", from The Nutcracker ballet, composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
• Romeo and Juliet ballet, composed by Sergey Prokofiev.
• An American in Paris, a tone poem composed by George Gershwin.
• "That's It For The Other One" by The Grateful Dead.
• Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, composed by Béla Bartók.
• The title theme of the Harry Potter films, composed by John Williams.
• Björk uses this instrument in her album Vespertine (2001).
• It is something of a trademark sound in the studio work of The Eels (song examples: Going to your funeral parts I&II, Flyswatter, Trouble with dreams). E also played it on stage during the tour associated with the album Blinking Lights and Other Revelations (2005).
• In his landmark album Brilliant Corners (1957), jazz musician Thelonious Monk used to great effect a celesta casually found in the recording studio, playing it alongside his regular piano in the composition "Pannonica".
• John Cale of The Velvet Underground played this instrument on the track "Sunday Morning" on their debut album The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967) after seeing it sitting in the corner of the studio. He also played it on the song "Stephanie Says" off the outtakes compilation album VU.

Sigur Ros on the album Takk

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Compare with:

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• glockenspiel
• Rhodes piano