This and That: Sounds of Music: Vintage to Whimsical

Music is the universal language of mankind....... Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Music is more than reading the notes and hitting the correct keys in the correct sequence and time.
"Playing" the piano or any other musical instrument is a misnomer. It makes it sound like a game; like playing hop-scotch, or playing ball etc. Speaking as struggling fledgling, I can tell you it is more WORK than PLAY. I am grateful to my sister who not only encourages my attempts at playing the piano, but who also applauds my successes.

Few truly possess the God-given talent and passion for music and the ability to use the instruments to speak the language of music. My sister is one of those talented accomplished pianists, and has graciously allowed me to invade her home with my camera so that I may share some of her usual and UNusual musical memorabilia.

The vintage collection begins with this World War I Field Pump Organ - circa 1896. It was manufactured in Washington, New Jersey by Johnston Cornish who also manufactured pianos. Mr. Cornish also served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 4th district from March 4, 1889 - March, 1893.

A view of the full key board, and a close up of the manufacturer's logo.

Three of the twelve 'stops'


The foot pedals that 'pumped' the air into the bellows which then produced the sounds.. The carving above the pedals is quite intricate.

The full size Harpischord has black and BROWN keys.

And closely resembles a Baby Grand Piano

This instrument is tuned much like a guitar. The tool pictured here tightens the frets to achieve the correct sound/tone for each of the black and brown keys.

The 'frets' and strings.

The contemporary continues with an accordion that dates back to the 1950's. Here it is in its ORIGINAL RED VELVET case. It is a very cumbersome, heavy instrument, and was actually transported back and forth to the DelNunzio School of Music in an old baby stroller.

There are 120 'base' buttons, and the silver bar is used to change raise or lower the octave. The large black buttons on the key board changed the sound from treble to bass enabling the accordion to have a full range of octaves.

The original carry case.

This magnificent instrument speaks for itself.

It is a Steinway Concert Grand Piano.

The various patents range in date from the 1870 to 1876

It is indeed a GRAND instrument.

We come to the 'stringed' instruments. The MANDOLIN in its original case complete with a package of replacement strings.

Additional 'stringed' instruments. The Zither (also known as the Auto Harp) guitar and violin.

The Violin, Guitar and '8', '16', and '36' hole harmonicas belong to my nephews. I received these pictures via email, and had some 'technical difficulties'!!!

Bongos from the Virgin Islands

The more modern electric key board. By using the keypad on the right side of the controls, this instrument 'mimics' all of the instruments highlighted here, and then some!

The WHIMSICAL: The lovely young lady playing the Harp,

the Christmas Angel Bear, playing Christmas Carols on the accordion. Both of these do actually PLAY music.The accordion moves in and out along with the music;