Coppelius is a German band from Berlin that plays
metal
A metal () is a material that, when polished or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electrical resistivity and conductivity, electricity and thermal conductivity, heat relatively well. These properties are all associated wit ...
on
drums
The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...
,
double bass
The double bass (), also known as the upright bass, the acoustic bass, the bull fiddle, or simply the bass, is the largest and lowest-pitched string instrument, chordophone in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding rare additions ...
,
cello
The violoncello ( , ), commonly abbreviated as cello ( ), is a middle pitched bowed (sometimes pizzicato, plucked and occasionally col legno, hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually intonation (music), tuned i ...
, and
clarinet
The clarinet is a Single-reed instrument, single-reed musical instrument in the woodwind family, with a nearly cylindrical bore (wind instruments), bore and a flared bell.
Clarinets comprise a Family (musical instruments), family of instrume ...
. The band's name is taken from
E.T.A. Hoffmann
Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann (born Ernst Theodor Wilhelm Hoffmann; 24 January 1776 – 25 June 1822) was a German Romantic author of fantasy and Gothic horror, a jurist, composer, music critic and artist.Penrith Goff, "E.T.A. Hoffmann" in ...
's short story "
Der Sandmann
"The Sandman" ( German: ''Der Sandmann'') is a short story by . It was the first in an 1817 book of stories titled ''Die Nachtstücke'' (''The Night Pieces'').
Plot summary
The story is told by a narrator who claims to have known Lothar. It beg ...
". Their logo consists of a
top hat
A top hat (also called a high hat, or, informally, a topper) is a tall, flat-crowned hat traditionally associated with formal wear in Western dress codes, meaning white tie, morning dress, or frock coat. Traditionally made of black silk or ...
with the word "Coppelius" underneath.
The band is made up of Max Coppella (
clarinet
The clarinet is a Single-reed instrument, single-reed musical instrument in the woodwind family, with a nearly cylindrical bore (wind instruments), bore and a flared bell.
Clarinets comprise a Family (musical instruments), family of instrume ...
and vocals), Comte Caspar (
clarinet
The clarinet is a Single-reed instrument, single-reed musical instrument in the woodwind family, with a nearly cylindrical bore (wind instruments), bore and a flared bell.
Clarinets comprise a Family (musical instruments), family of instrume ...
, vocals,
harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a musical keyboard, keyboard. Depressing a key raises its back end within the instrument, which in turn raises a mechanism with a small plectrum made from quill or plastic that plucks one ...
), Graf Lindorf (
cello
The violoncello ( , ), commonly abbreviated as cello ( ), is a middle pitched bowed (sometimes pizzicato, plucked and occasionally col legno, hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually intonation (music), tuned i ...
, vocals), Sissy Voss (
double bass
The double bass (), also known as the upright bass, the acoustic bass, the bull fiddle, or simply the bass, is the largest and lowest-pitched string instrument, chordophone in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding rare additions ...
), Herr Linus von Doppelschlag (
drums
The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...
, joined 2019), and Bastille (Butler, vocals). Former band members include Nobusama (
drums
The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...
, left 2018). Additionally, they are often accompanied by Prof. Mosch Terpin (technician and harpsichord).
On stage the members of the band wear formal, old-fashioned clothes, inspired mainly by the
Victorian era
In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the reign of Queen Victoria, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. Slightly different definitions are sometimes used. The era followed the ...
. This era is also an inspiration for a lot of the themes in Copellius' music. For this reason, they are often referred to as a
Steampunk
Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction that incorporates retrofuturistic technology and Applied arts, aesthetics inspired by, but not limited to, 19th-century Industrial Revolution, industrial steam engine, steam-powered machinery. Steampun ...
band.
Discography
* Albums
** 2007: ''Time-Zeit''
** 2009: ''Tumult''
** 2010: ''Zinnober''
** 2013: ''Extrablatt''
** 2015: ''Hertzmaschine''
** 2019: ''Kammerarchiv''
** 2023: ''Abwärts''
* EPs
** 2003: ''Coppelius''
** 2004: ''1803''
** 2005: ''To My Creator''
** 2005: ''Frühe Werke (box set of all three EPs)''
* Videos
** 2005: ''I Get Used To It''
** 2007: ''Morgenstimmung''
** 2009: ''Habgier''
** 2010: ''Die Glocke''
** 2011: ''Risiko''
** 2012: ''I Told You So''
** 2013: ''Spieldose''
** 2015: ''Moor''
** 2017: ''Black is the Colour''
** 2019: ''Zeit & Raum''
Gallery
Coppelius Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2019 33.jpg, Max Copella
Coppelius Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2019 01.jpg, Herr Linus von Doppelschlag
Coppelius Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2019 29.jpg, Graf Lindorf
Coppelius Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2019 34.jpg, Comte Caspar
Coppelius Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2019 31.jpg, Sissy Voss
Coppelius Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2019 42.jpg, Bastille
External links
Official homepage
{{Authority control
Musical groups from Berlin