The Orchestrion: Pat Metheny's One-Man Band
Series: Echo Location: Soundings for New Music
From: John Diliberto
Length: 00:03:30
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Related Pieces
Piece Description
Acclaimed jazz guitarist Pat Metheny plugs to the Orchestrion, a massive instrument based on the old player piano orchestrations of yore.
It's part of Echo Location: Soundings for New Music, the weekly digest from Echoes host and Peabody Award winning producer John Diliberto, exploring the latest in modern music with quick hitting interviews, music and commentary. Each edition of Echo Location features a beautifully edited music blend, that's combined with John's thoughtful insights and artists's comments to make a sound-rich journey for listeners. Each episode can stand on its own or be scheduled as a weekly or occasional series.
Broadcast History
WXPN Philadelphia and WITF Harrisburg
Transcript
JD: I REMEMBER AS A CHILD VISITING CLARK TRADING POST IN New Hampshire and being transfixed by an instrument that looked a like a player piano except it had a glass pane and inside were drums and cymbals that played as if by phantom spirits.
music bite
JD: That was an orchestrion, a mechanical orchestra that flourished in the 19th and early 20th century. But now I'm in a decommissioned church in Brooklyn with a giant modern day version of that instrument that stretches about 25 feet long and 12 feet high with drums, robot guitars, jug organs, marimba, vibes, piano and more. And standing in the middle is guitarist Pat Metheny.
Sfx
JD: in a mix of the antique concepts and computer technology, Metheny has designed his own Orchestrion.
music
JD: He says it's something he's wanted to do since he was a child and operated his grandfather's player piano.
PM: I was only...
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
Incue: [circus music] I remember as a child...
Outcue: I’m John Diliberto and this has been an Echo Location, Soundings for New Music.
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David Srebnik
Posted on March 03, 2010 at 10:14 AM | Permalink
Pat Metheny's Orchestrated Mashup
Please see the Music Station Picks for March, 2010: http://www.prx.org/playlists/114342