Méthode pour Apprendre le piano-forte à l'aide du Guide-mains - Kalkbrenner, Friedrich 1784-1849 (Bruxelles Nacher)
While living 1814 to 1823 in England, Kalkbrenner came across an invention made by Johann Bernhard Logier. This invention was the so-called chiroplast or "hand guide" ("guide-main" in french, "Handleiter" in german). The chiroplast was a contrivance made from two parallel rails of mahogany wood that were placed on two feet and loosely attached to the piano. This apparatus should restrict vertical motions of the arms thereby helping nascent pianists to attain the (perceived) correct position of the hands. This invention became a runaway success. There are reports that it was still available for sale in London in the 1870s. In 1817, Logier teamed up with Kalkbrenner to found an academy where music theory and piano playing, of course with the help of the chiroplast, were taught. The proceeds from the patent made Kalkbrenner a wealthy man.
plate number P.N. 732
Bound in with: Kalkbrenner's Vingt-quatre Préludes pour le Piano Forté Op. 88
Contains a list of contents in the back.
Pianoforte-Schule. Anweisung das Pianoforte mit Hülfe des Handleiters spielen zu lernen op. 108
Contenant: Les Principes de Musique, un système complet de doigter, la classification des Auteurs à étudier, des Règles sur l'Expression, sur la manière de phraser, sur la Ponctuation Musicale, &c: suivi de Douze Etudes, dédiée aux Conservatoires de Musique d'Europe
Keywords: 19th Century (1801-1900); Method; Piano; Music education