The First Keyboard

The hydraulis, the first keyboard musical instrument, is attributed to the Greek engineer Ctesibius of Alexandria in the 3rd century BCE.

Musicians with horns and a water organ, detail from the Zliten mosaic, 2nd century AD - Nacéra Benseddik, CC BY-SA 1.0

The instrument was a water organ that produced sound when pressurized air was pushed through tubes or pipes, as selected using a keyboard.

These instruments were used in Greek and Roman temples accompanied by other instruments.

The sound of the first water organ has now been recreated. Take a trip back in time with Justus Wilberg playing a water organ reconstructed from the metal pieces discovered in Budapest, which once was within the Roman Empire.

Works cited:

“Building a Working Model 1st Century Hydraulis.” Jur.byu.edu, jur.byu.edu/?p=7650.

“The Water Organ.” Www.thelatinlibrary.com, www.thelatinlibrary.com/waterorg.htm.

“The Origins of the Pipe Organ: The Birth of the Pipe Organ - Musical Instrument Guide - Yamaha Corporation.” Www.yamaha.com, www.yamaha.com/en/musical_instrument_guide/pipeorgan/structure/.