celesta

ce·les·ta

C0187000 (sə-lĕs′tə) also ce·leste (-lĕst′)n. A musical instrument with a keyboard and metal plates struck by hammers that produce bell-like tones.

[French célesta, from céleste, celestial, from Latin caelestis; see celestial.]

celesta

(sɪˈlɛstə) or

celeste

n (Instruments) music a keyboard percussion instrument consisting of a set of steel plates of graduated length that are struck with key-operated hammers. The tone is an ethereal tinkling sound. Range: four octaves upwards from middle C[C19: from French, Latinized variant of céleste heavenly]

ce•les•ta

(səˈlɛs tə)

also ce•leste

(səˈlɛst)

n., pl. -les•tas also -lestes. a musical instrument consisting principally of a set of graduated steel plates struck with hammers that are activated by a keyboard. [1895–1900; < French célesta,céleste literally, heavenly (see celestial)]

Thesaurus

Noun

celesta - a musical instrument consisting of graduated steel plates that are struck by hammers activated by a keyboardkeyboard instrument - a musical instrument that is played by means of a keyboard

Translations

Celestaчелеста

celesta

(sĭlĕ`stə), keyboard musical instrument patented in 1886 by Auguste Mustel of Paris. It consists of a set of steel bars fastened over wood resonators and struck by hammers operated from the keyboard. The compass is four octaves upward from middle C. Its tone is delicate and ethereal. Tchaikovsky, in his Nutcracker Suite, was one of the first composers to write for it.

Celesta

a keyboard metallophone. The celesta was named for its unusually dulcet, bell-like, ethereal tone. The instrument, which resembles a small upright piano, has a piano action and a set of chromatically tuned steel plates or bars with a compass from middle C to C of the five-line octave; the plates or bars are placed in box-shaped resonators designed to intensify the fundamental of each tone. Many composers, including modern composers, have used the celesta in orchestral works to obtain special effects.

celesta

, celeste Music a keyboard percussion instrument consisting of a set of steel plates of graduated length that are struck with key-operated hammers. The tone is an ethereal tinkling sound. Range: four octaves upwards from middle C

celesta

ce·les·ta

celesta

celeste

ce•les•ta

also ce•leste

celesta

celesta

Celesta

celesta

celesta

Words related to celesta

noun a musical instrument consisting of graduated steel plates that are struck by hammers activated by a keyboard

Related Words