Ever wondered what it was like to experience music before modern recording technology? Welcome to the Pianola Museum. This small museum in the Jordaan district holds a fascinating collection of instruments that bridge the gap between live performance and recorded music.
The Pianola Museum is dedicated to the pianola. These automatic pianos gained popularity around 1900. Back then, recording on wax cylinders was quite primitive. Pianolas allowed people to enjoy music in their homes with impressive sound quality.
These ingenious music robots use felt-lined wooden or metal fingers to play the piano keys. The player operates the pedals and brings the music to life. Some pianolas could even reproduce the performances of famous pianists and composers. Stravinsky, Hindemith and Milhaud even wrote music specifically for the pianola.
Inside the Pianola Museum, you will find several original instruments. One of them is a Steinway grand piano equipped with a player system. The museum also boasts over 40000 music rolls. This is one of the largest collections in the world. These rolls contain punched holes. Each hole represents a musical note.
Imagine the atmosphere of the early 20th century. The Pianola Museum recreates this with old furniture and dimmed lighting. It is like stepping back in time to the heyday of these music robots.
The museum is housed in a former police station. As you enter, you are transported to a musical time machine. The museum cafe and salon evoke the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles of 1900-1930. History comes alive when the instruments are played.
The Geelvinck Pianola Museum offers guided tours. These tours provide information about the history and operation of the instruments. Visitors can also experience the atmosphere of the roaring twenties during a museum concert. Every week, the Pianola Museum hosts a variety of events. These include classical concerts, jazz performances and film evenings.
The Pianola Museum is easily accessible. It is a short walk from the Anne Frank House. You can also take tram 3 or 10 to the Marnixbad stop. If you are coming by car, you may find paid parking on Westerstraat.
The Pianola Museum is open from Friday to Sunday. The opening times are 1 PM to 5 PM on Friday and Saturday and 1 PM to 4 PM on Sunday. Admission is 9 euros. It is 7 euros for students and seniors and 5 euros for children. The I amsterdam City Card grants free entry.
The Pianola Museum is more than just a collection of instruments. It is a portal to a time when music was on the cusp of a technological revolution. It is a place where you can hear the grand masters of the keyboard from a century ago. It is an experience that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the history of music.