Elka Rhapsody

The Elka Rhapsody is a fully polyphonic multi-orchestral synthesizer with either a 49-key or 61-key keyboard, depending on the model. It was particularly popular with Berlin School electronic musicians during the 1970s.

Elka Rhapsody 490


This was the earlier, smaller version with 49-key keyboard. It had two sounds, violoncello and strings which could also be combined to produce a fuller sound. There were two other controls; volume and sustain. It also had a master tuning control on the rear panel of the instrument. It is a monotimbral instrument with a single ¼" jack on the rear for output, and a single 5-pin DIN socket for a pedal.

Elka Rhapsody 610
This is the larger instrument with a 61-key keyboard. It had four sounds, violoncello, strings, piano and clavichord which could also be switched in and out, similar to the 490. Each voice had separate volume and decay time sliders mounted on the top of the instrument. The 610 had a split function, which would allow one sound - for example, bass - to be assigned to the lower half of the keyboard, while the upper section could play a different lead voice.

Notable users

 * Billy Currie of Ultravox
 * Jean-Michel Jarre
 * Klaus Schulze
 * Tangerine Dream
 * Vangelis
 * Tony Banks
 * Volker Kahrs of Grobschnitt
 * Dee Palmer of Jethro Tull