Optophonic Piano

The Optophonic Piano is an electronic optical instrument created by the Russian Futurist painter Vladimir Baranoff Rossiné. It was a unique device that combined music and visual art in a very special way.

Vladimir Baranoff Rossiné began working on this instrument in 1916. He performed with it at many exciting events, including the Bolshoi Theatre in 1924. His wife often helped him during these performances.

The Optophonic Piano made sounds and also showed beautiful, moving patterns on walls or ceilings. It used bright light shining through spinning glass disks that Vladimir painted himself. There were also filters, mirrors, and lenses. Pressing the keys changed which filters and disks were used. These changes helped control the pitch of the sound. The instrument created a smooth, changing tone, and together with the rotating kaleidoscopic pictures, it made performances at exhibitions and public events even more wonderful.