Behind a keyboard resembling that of a small piano, the celesta brings together metal sound bars, felt-covered hammers and wooden resonators to create its distinctive bell-like voice. 🏷️ INSTRUMENT PROFILE Name Celesta, also called celeste; French célesta . Instrument family A definite-pitch percussion instrument: a keyboard-operated idiophone belonging to the broader metallophone family. Sound production Metal bars, usually steel, vibrate when struck by felt-covered hammers; wooden resonators reinforce their sound. Historical origin The Mustel firm, Paris, 1886; French patent no. 176530. Main components Keyboard, striking action, metal sound bars, resonators, dampers and sustain pedal. Range Model-dependent; representative instruments sound from C4 to C8, with larger models extending as far as C3–F8. Notation Usually on two staves; sounds one octave higher than written. Characteristic tone Bell-like, gentle and clear, with a rounded attack and del...