SYMPHONIES
The Symphony, a smaller treble instrument, superseded the organistrum.
It could be played by one person and was portable. The mechanism was altered so that the performer pressed keys operating tangents inside the box which touched only the top string, (chanterelle), leaving the other two strings as permanent drones, (bourdons). These improvements enabled the symphony to be used for secular songs and dances as described in contemporary poems.
The Symphony blends well with recorders and other instruments of the period. Notes are supplied with each instrument on the setting as well as the basic playing instructions.
Two models are available made of sycamore with a spruce base; the fittings are in rosewood or ebony. For information on the wheel mechanism, see the Hurdy-Gurdy. The tuneable tangents allow for adjustments with string changes. Both symphonies have a diatonic range of two octaves with a base tuning of: g-d' -g'- (g') which may be varied to the mode required.
SYMPHONIE - MULTI-KEY (not pictured)
This instrument is a larger version of the English Symphony and has been developed to ease the problems of public performances, namely tuning and needing instruments for different keys.
The two drones have an internal sliding mechanism to alter the tonic and dominant drones for the various keys available. The chanterelle is stopped by tangents as usual, but some keys have double tangents that can be swivelled simply into play to obtain the necessary accidentals for the various keys. The wheel machanism is also adjustable, so that the wheel can be lowered or raised to the chanterelle for perfect
string pressure.
This Symphonie can be used in Pythagorean or Equal Temperent tuning.
SPECIFICATIONS
Length: 665mm
Maximum width: 125mm
Depth: 120mm
Keys obtainable with this set up: C, D, E, F, G
and A major and the relative modes