Manufacture of the Leather Bag of the Intensity Key and the Ribbon
Thierry Courrier, Laurent Quartier · 2023
The intensity key is an essential device of the ondes-type musical instruments built by Maurice Martenot from 1928 until the 1980s. It allows the sound intensity delivered by the instrument to be controlled. This chapter analyzes the different solutions that Mr. Martenot has considered to control the sound level. It presents five types of keys, which chronologically follow each other, and best meet the constraints imposed by both the user and the instrument: the mercury key; first version of the powder key; second version of the powder key; third version of the powder key; fourth version of the powder key adapted to transistor-based ondes. The chapter provides a description of the manufacture of the key powder bag. The ribbon is an indispensable element of the ondes. This is the device that allows the ondist to perform glissando.