Innovations

1980s

1980s Handmade Sixxens for the Pléiades by Xenakis

Pleiades (1979) is a piece for six percussionists divided into four movements. Three of them explore one type of percussion (skins, keyboards, metal), and the fourth mixes timbres. The metal movement features players on an instrument designed for the piece, SIXXEN (after Sixxens Xenakis). As in most of his works, Xenakis works with a mathematical rhythmic organization, structuring original chaos according to probability methods, thus treating sound in its most abstract form.

1970s

1970s Musical Xylo-Chair

This chair was designed for Gaston, a famous TV show host for one of his programs.
It is played with mallets like a xylophone.

1970s Dismountable Vibra-Marimba

Permutable keyboard to play marimba or vibraphone without changing the measurements.
Varnished wood finish.

1960s

1960s Vibraphone Model 820 with Accordion-Type Keyboard

The bar layout corresponds to the right-hand keyboard of an accordion.
“Nacre pearl” marble yellow finish.
Bergerault Private Collection

1960s Vibraphone for Michel Hausser

This instrument was specially designed for Michel Hausser, the first French jazz vibraphonist.
Bergerault Private Collection

1950s

1950s 3-Octave Vibraphone (C to C)

Celluloid and marble finish decoration.

1940s

1940s 4-Octave Marimba

“Nacrolaque” marble gray finish.

1940s Handmade Xylophone During WWII

Handmade by Albert Bergerault in 1939 during his captivity in the Sagan POW camp, Poland.

1930s

Instrument set for a 1930s musician

This set of instruments was used to play popular village dances. The names of the dances appeared on the top of the instruments. Here, the dance “One Step.”
Includes: automatic pedal drum, metallophone, and chimes.
“Nacrolaque” in pink and gray with rhinestone inlays in the design.
Bergerault Private Collection

1930s Automatic Drum Set

Designed for accordionist-singers, activated by pedals.
Composed of 1 snare roll, 1 bass drum, 1 woodblock, and 1 Charleston cymbal.
Bergerault Private Collection

1930s Chromatic Stacked Xylophone (3 Octaves, A to G)

“Nacrolaque” black with rhinestone inlays in the design.

1930s Trapezoidal Xylophone