Transcript for the Piece Audio version of Mellodrama: the Signature Sound of Progressive Rock

Music: Mysterious Semblance at the Strands of Nightmare
:14
SOMETIMES JUST THE SOUND OF AN INSTRUMENT CAN HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT. MARK SHREEVE IS A NOTED ENGLISH SPACE MUSIC COMPOSER. HE REMEMBERS LYING IN BED IN 1974, WHEN HE TUNED INTO THE BBC AND HEARD THE MELLOTRON ON TANGERINE DREAMS ALBUM, "PHAEDRA."

:18
Mark shreeve: I switched on the radio, I laid back onto the pillow, my head started to spin, and these mellotron chords started to wash over me. Almost instantly I thought, this is possibly the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard in my life. I have never, ever heard anything like this.

Musik "Mysterious Semblance at the Strands of Nightmare"
:15
THE MELLOTRON WAS THE SOUND OF PROGRESSIVE ROCK, BUT EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOUR GENESIS FROM YOUR GENTLE GIANT, YOU'VE HEARD THE INSTRUMENT. WHEN DIRECTOR DIANNA DILWORTH IS EXPLAINING HER MELLOTRON DOCUMENTARY, MELLODRAMA. SHE JUST NEEDS TO MENTION ONE TRACK.

:09
DD: You might not know what a Mellotron is, but you’ve definitely heard one. The beginning of Strawberry Fields Forever, the flute sound, and everybody knows. “Oh, OK. The flutes, right.”

MUSIK The Beatles "Strawberry Fields"

:
THE MELLOTRON AND ITS PRECURSOR, THE CHAMBERLIN BOTH USED TAPES OF REAL INSTRUMENTS, OR WHATEVER YOU WANTED, AND LET YOU PLAY THEM ON A KEYBOARD.

MUSIK King Crimson "In the Court of the Crimson King.

HARRY CHAMBERLIN CAME UP WITH THE CONCEPT IN THE 1940S. HE DIDN'T HAVE LOFTY ASPIRATIONS FOR HIS INVENTION.

SFX CHAMBERLIN RAP

:11
DD: When Harry Chamberlin invented it, he did not invent it for rock bands, you know. He wanted it for everybody in their living room to own, to sing along to. That didn’t happen.

:21
IN THE EARLY 1960S, CHAMBERLIN WAS STILL STRUGGLING, TRYING TO MARKET HIS INSTRUMENT, WHEN ONE OF HIS SALESMEN TOOK IT TO ENGLAND AND SOLD IT TO A COMPANY THAT REBRANDED IT AS THE MELLOTRON. LAWSUITS ENSUED. A SETTLEMENT WAS REACHED. AND THE MELLOTRON WENT ON TO ECLIPSE THE CHAMBERLIN IN THE POPULAR CONSCIOUSNESS.

MUSIK BITE

:07
LIKE CHAMBERLIN, THE PRODUCERS OF THE MELLOTRON DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THEIR CREATION EITHER.

MELLOTRON CLIP.

:24
DD: I mean, it was essentially invented to replace an orchestra, which is a funny concept because it didn’t ever replace the orchestra. It, of course, made its own unique characteristic sound. Bands started to use it because it was cheap, and they couldn’t afford an orchestra. But then, you know, it sounded weird, and it sounded cool. And I think musicians who were looking for new sounds, you know, this was awesome.

Musik Bite The Moody Blues "Tuesday Afternoon"

DIANNA DILWORTH'S DOCUMENTARY, MELLODRAMA, THE STORY OF THE MELLOTRON AND THE CHAMBERLIN WAS RECENTLY RELEASED ON DVD.
I’m John Diliberto and this has been an Echo Location, Soundings for New Music.