Chemnitzer Concertina
Chemnitzer System: Uhlig, 40 tones
bisonoric, logical
(Not part of Collection Oriwohl)
Manufacture: unknown, with entry from 1853
This is a first extension of the original Konzertina (see previous). With two rows manuals, the number of keys increases to 22 for 44 tones.
As a result, this instrument has two keys at a distance of one fifth. This expansion to 2 rows of keys took place around 1836.
However, 12 keys on the right manual are unusual and indicate a custom-made product. Such instruments are commonly known with 10 keys on each side and a total of 40 tones.
The instrument in the front view
The keyboard and case cover of the left side
The reedplates of the left side and a handwritten entry:
"J G. Röhler in Auma, 1853" (The small town Auma is located in Eastern Thuringia near Vogtland and Saxony).
Whether this is the entry of a manufacturer or owner must remain open. It is true that around 1853 Konzertinas were already built with a much larger tonal range, but this not excludes a manufacture of the model shown here at this time.
The collective reedplates of both sides fixed on flat chamber and the air flap.
Left side:
The instrument does not belong to the Oriwohl collection, so its tuning is not known. The explanation therefore assumes the most common tuning in C major.
For harmonic reasons, there is a tone extension in the fifth interval with G major. Therefore is a recurring distance of fifths between the keys of both scales in both bellows directions: keys 3 and 7, 4 and 8, and so on.
With G major, only the note f#1 is added to the tone stock. But the extension with the G major row results in doubling of tones, which make three tones (red) on the left side playable in both bellows directions.
Right side:
Both tone rows connect to those of the left manual with the following tone and are identical in their structure. The keys 1 and 5, 2 and 6, etc. are spaced a fifth apart for both bellows directions too.
The tone stock increases by four tones on the right side: f#1, f#2, g3, b3.
The addition of G major leads to four tone doublings (red), which make these notes playable in both directions of the bellows.
The sixth key of each row on this instrument is not shown because its tone assignment is unknown. The diagram shows the key assignment of the standard version with 10 keys, as found on all two-row Deutschen Konzertinas. The selected keys may differ, but are usually a fifth apart.
