This is Ondioline

The Ondioline 

is an early electronic analog synthesizer developed by French inventor Georges Jenny. Sometimes called the Jenny Ondioline, it is widely regarded as a forerunner of the modern synthesizer. Jenny first conceived the instrument in 1939 and continued refining it for decades, producing numerous versions until his death in 1975. - wikipedia 


Photo source 

For those who have never encountered one and that’s most people, an Ondioline might sound like the name of a bird. In reality, it’s a highly expressive electronic instrument from the early 1940s, capable of imitating other instruments using vacuum tubes and creative filtering techniques.


A Unique Playing Experience

One of the Ondioline’s most remarkable features was its spring-mounted keyboard. The keys could move laterally, allowing players to create a natural vibrato simply by moving their hand side to side. This produced an expressive, almost human-like vibrato that set the instrument apart from other early electronic devices.

The keyboard was also pressure-sensitive, and performers controlled volume using a knee lever, adding yet another layer of expressive control. These innovations made the Ondioline capable of a surprisingly wide range of tonal character.

Source

Jean-Jacques Perrey and the Ondioline

In 1952, French electronic music pioneer Jean-Jacques Perrey discovered the Ondioline and immediately recognized its potential. Meeting Georges Jenny in Paris proved to be a turning point in Perrey’s artistic life. The instrument’s delicate vibrato and vacuum-tube warmth became a signature part of his sound.

Source

The Ondioline remains a fascinating chapter in the history of electronic music,an instrument ahead of its time, built by hand, and capable of emotional nuance rarely matched in early synthesis. Though rare, its legacy lives on through recordings, restorations, and the musicians who continue to champion its sound.

Also check out sound on sound article about 

Analogue Systems French Connection

Isuru chamara (plus94records) 


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