【出版報告】『The History of the Melodica』（英書）発売のお知らせ

2025.1.13より鍵盤ハーモニカ誕生から現代までの世界史を綴った書籍「The History of the Melodica」を発売します。全編英語なので、日本での需要は殆どない気がしますが、国内発送分に限り、ピアノニマルシェにて先行予約を受け付けます。

【国内発送限定・初回限定版】

タイトル：The History of the Melodica
価格：3,939円+税（国内発送分に限る）
発行：鍵盤ハーモニカ研究所 (MelodicaLabo)
言語：英語
サイズ：A5
ページ数：142ページ
発売日：2025.1.13
発送日：1月中旬以降

ISBN：9798303111868

予約ページ：https://pianonymous.official.ec/items/95269757
※ Amazonでの日本国内販売は予定しておりません

【海外発送限定・通常版】
Title: The History of the Melodica
Price: Based on local currency
Publisher: MelodicaLabo
Language: English
Size: A5
Pages: 142
Release Date: January 13, 2025
Shipping Date: Mid-January 2025 onwards

ISBN：9798303111868

URL：https://www.amazon.com/History-Melodica-Akeo-Minamikawa/dp/B0DRXF2LDQ/

Note: Available exclusively on Amazon.

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[Author]
Akeo Minamikawa (pianonymous)
https://akeominamikawa.com

[Publisher]
MelodicaLabo
https://melodicalabo.com

[Adviser]
Oscar Verdugo (The International Melodica Museum)

[ProofReader]
Masayuki Takata
netnomahsib

[Production cooperation]
YAIRO WORKS
Tatsuya Matsuoka
Yuki Oda
Akuma Shobou

[Cover Illustration]
Dust

(c)2025 Akeo Minamikawa (pianonymous) All rights reserved.

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CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1
A Melodica Voyage through the Skies
 1.1. What Kind of Instrument Is a Melodica?
 1.2. A Black and White “Stairway to Heaven”
 1.3. Transparent Sustainable Energy
 1.4. Flat Gold Nugget
 1.5. Three “Generic” Melodica Features

Chapter 2
Stirring Melodica
 2.1. Three Challenges in the Historical Study of Free Reed Instruments
 2.2. The Early 19th Century: The First Free Reed Baby Boom
 2.3. The Mystery of the Ghost Ship that Crossed the Seas
 2.4. Sounding Noble Boots, Psallmelodikon
 2.5. A Giant Bow Tie Referred to as the “New Shō (=Sheng)”

Chapter 3
The Oldest Melodica
 3.1. Long-Lost Siblings
 3.2. A City That Embodies European History
 3.3. 19th Century Melodicas: Mutation and Evolution

Chapter 4
The Diabolical Melodica
 4.1. The Stylish “Racket” by a Music Box Craftsman
 4.2. The Orchestra's Devilish Partner
 4.3. The Ebony Keys: A Beautiful Wooden Melodica

Chapter 5
The Melodica at the Turn of the Century 
 5.1. The Stylish “Racket” by a Music Box Craftsman
 5.2. The Orchestra's Devilish Partner
 5.3. The Ebony Keys: A Beautiful Wooden Melodica
 5.4. The Cross-Century Curator of Trossingen
 5.5. Another Curator

Chapter 6
 6.1. Humanity and the Melodica
 6.2. A Favorite among Accordionists
 6.3. Into the Organist’s Pocket
 6.4. From Boys to Prodigies
 6.5. Melodica’s Cinderella Story
 6.6. Rebellion, Creation, and Destruction with the Melodica
 6.7. The End of Melodica’s Voyage

Chapter 7
A Chronological Table of Melodica

Chapter 8
Patent and Utility Model Documents Related to the Melodica Filed in Japan from
1959 to 1962

Notes

Biographical Note

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成田空港を発ち、アナ雪２に不時着する、時空を超えた鍵盤ハーモニカの物語。
鍵盤ハーモニカの世界史を網羅した愛と情熱の一冊。
A story of a time-traveling melodica that takes off from Narita Airport and makes an emergency landing in Frozen 2.
A book filled with love and passion that covers the complete world history of the melodica.

<本文より一部抜粋>
<Excerpt from the text.>

この謎めいた楽器を研究するにあたり、学術機関に所属していない私の仕事は非常に困難なものだった。
In researching this enigmatic instrument, my work was met with great difficulty, as I am not affiliated with any academic institution.

四方を海に囲まれた孤島、日本に生まれた私はモノリンガルとして育ち、英語、フランス語、ドイツ語の翻訳で心がボロボロになった。
Born on an isolated island nation surrounded by the sea —Japan—I grew up monolingual, so translating English, French, and German left my heart in tatters.

COVID-19の大流行で図書館へのアクセスが制限され、貯金は氷のように溶けていった。私の財布にはいつも冷たい風が吹いていた。
During the COVID-19 pandemic, public access to libraries was restricted, and my savings melted away like ice. There was always a cold wind blowing through my wallet.

この楽器の謎を深く掘り下げれば掘り下げるほど、底無しの沼に沈んでいくのがわかった。沼底から見上げると、無数の鍵盤ハーモニカが頭上を漂い、揺らめいていた。
Yet, the deeper I delved into the mysteries of this instrument, the more I found myself sinking into the depths of the swamp. When I looked up from the bottom, countless Melodicas were drifting and shimmering above.

「すべてを失ったとき、すべてが見つかる」
“When all is lost, then all is found”

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