The plaque in front of it explained that the modern standard keyboard is the product of an evolution extending over 1,000 years.  The standard keyboard's only successful rival, as of 1912, was the von Janko keyboard, invented by Paul von Janko of Hungary in 1882.  It looks like six different rows of keys arranged stepwise, one above the other. Actually, the corresponding keys in the 1st 3rd and 5th rows are all fixed on one key-lever, thus if you play the note "C" in the 1st or lowest row, the corresponding keys in the 3rd and 5th rows are also depressed. Likewise the 2nd 4th and 6th rows are similarly connected.  It was designed so that any given tone can be struck in different places allowing the pianist to choose the keys most convenient to the position of their hands at any given instant.  Having completed our tour of the museum we wandered out the back door to visit the other main attraction on the premises.  The Stephen Foster Memorial Carillon, housed in a 200 foot tower.  Now this was an engineering marvel.  It was built in 1957 by Deagan, the leader in tubular bell design.  Although there are several other carillons in the US, notably the one at the Collage of the Ozarks in Hollister, MO, none in this country take on such proportions. This 97 bell carillon is one of the largest musical instruments ever made in North America.  After going inside the tower to see how it worked, we learned that the tubular bell is a more efficient design for the production of musical tone than the cast bell of the old world.  A more accurate tuning and more precise harmonic controls allows for a much more accurate rendition of Steven Foster's favorite tunes. With few exceptions, the songs are played in the Key they were originally written in. Against one wall was a scale model of the carillon, and from this we learned that it is made up of 3 sets of 32 bells with a scale range of C to G, chromatic, plus a 4th high G bell.  Three bells sound in perfect unison for each note to produce a strong, resonant tone response. The bells are sounded by powerful electric striking actions achieved from a piano-type electric console when manually played by a carillonneur, or from the carillon-playing devices which are fully automated under clock control.  The largest low "C" bells weigh 426 lbs. each and are 12 and a half feet long.  The smallest high "G" weighs only 59 lbs. and are only 3 and a half feet long. The total carillon weighs around 27 tons.  A large selection of compositions by Steven Foster are played daily either by hand or from one of the many specially designed music rolls.  We ended up the day doing what I had come to do.  We wandered down an old path, past the bath house that once was bustling with tourists to the sulfur springs that were made famous by visits by such celebrities as Teddy Roosevelt. Down to and through the old wooden gazebo to the ancient marble steps that led down to the banks of that most famous of named rivers.  The black waters of the Suwannee slowly meandered by as I sat on its bank and contemplated life as it once was, and yes, slowly, I pulled out my favorite harmonica and let the notes of "Old Folks at Home" drift out over its waters, one more time.

For more information on this adventure, check out www.floridastateparks.org/stephenfoster/

*** THE END ***