The “viola organista,” an unusual musical instrument invented by Leonardo da Vinci, has been reconstructed by a Polish pianist and presented during a performance at the Academy of Music in Krakow last month.
In creating the instrument similar to a piano (in shape, not mechanics), Slawomir Zubrzycki tried to stay faithful to Leonardo’s original sketches, included in the Renaissance genius’ 12-volume collection of manuscripts, Codex Atlanticus.
Zubrzycki said the invention is a musical hybrid: "This instrument has the characteristics of three we know: the harpsichord, the organ and the viola da gamba," he said. "I have no idea what Leonardo Da Vinci might think of the instrument I’ve made, but I’d hope he’d be pleased."
The instrument, painted in red, blue and gold, is made up of sixty-one strings, foot pedals and four spinning wheels wrapped in horse-tail hair. It produces a sonorous sound.
According to experts, Da Vinci never built the instrument. It took Zubrzycki almost three years to design and build the viola.
Zubrzycki is not the first to attempt to create something from the designs of Leonardo. Earlier this year, a Canadian team built and flew a human-powered helicopter Leonardo designed.
Watch Zubrzycki's first performance with the viola organista at the International Royal Cracow Piano Festival:
