[HANASHIR:3068] RE:

[Daniel A. Singer <dasinger...>]

Actually, I believe it was a large contraption based on pedals that would
damp out the unnecessary strings for what key he was in.  I guess it was
sort of a capo, but pretty complex.

At 03:00 PM 5/28/99 -0400, you wrote:
>> Thank God for the guy (person--I shouldn't 
>> presume it was a "guy", eh?) who invented capos for guitars!! Now if they 
>> only made one for the piano........
>
>Believe it or not, there IS a "capo" for the piano (besides the
>"transpose" button on a synthesizer).  While I can't rememberr it's name
>(or if it even had a name), it was a special gadget made for Irving
>Berlin.  Berlin, who couldn't read music, also had another musical
>limitation:  he could only play in the key of F# Major (or D# minor).
>This device would move the strings for him so he could play in a number of
>diferent keys without having to change his fingering.  It would have made
>my theory keyboard teacher blanch. . .
>
>Judah.
>
>


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Daniel A. Singer        H: (810) 603-0860  W: (810) 238-1350 ext. 4253
9102  Thornridge Dr.    Flint Institute of Music, Voice Chairman
Grand Blanc, MI 48439   Bass Voice, Guitar, Cantorial Soloist
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"If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
         If I am for myself alone, who am I?
                           If not now, when?"
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