In 100 years, people will be as blown away the same way we are now, listening in a museum to such a mighty mechanical masterpiece made by a marvelous mastermind of machine motion.
I find it one of the most beautiful things in the world; the fact that this marvelous example of human engineering was built to create MUSIC, not to kill people or start/finish wars. It makes me think that if wars didn't exist and we focused on the art of creation, what kind of stupendous, amazing, wonderful things humanity could create.
I get ya, but from wars penicillin was popularized, jet engines were developed, and digital cameras were invented. Not to advocate wars, but as unfortunate as it sounds, wars actually can propel human knowledge. Peace is arguably something that makes people stagnant; conflict as an aspect of life is inseparable from it. Again, not advocating wars, but some things developed in war ended up becoming stupendous, amazing, wonderful things.
We humans have tried to distance ourselves from nature and being just another animal for thousands of years! In nature war is just another aspect of survival! What we call war is just nature being natural? Every day is a war between predator and prey! Every day is a war between starving or thirsting to death. Wars only seem bad because of the unnatural ways humanity has “progressed.” Without the unnatural overpopulation by humans, wars would never exist as a world wide conflict! The every day struggle for life is all the war that most species can handle!! Only humans seem compelled to commit species suicide! Yes wars are horrible but it’s better population control than the Black Plague, where we have no control!?!?!
what really stunned me is the dynamics! It's one thing to get a programming roll to say "play this note", but "play this note softly/medium/loudly"? Stunning, for an all-mechanical system :D
The big pumps at the front are 3-phase! By having 3 pumps that are 1/3 of a cycle out of sync there is almost no ripple in the supply of air/vacuum to the machine!
Exactly. And- the spring loaded wind pressure reservoir connected to the pressure pumps (and the suction reservoir to the suction pumps) help give extra capacity for playing large chords, and for smoothing out additional fluctuation... after all the pipes have a tremulant for introducing deliberate fluctuation into the music on cue...
I can't see very well, aren't they dual acting bellows (bellows above and below a center board) so it's six phase? I honestly can't see if that's the case. Even better if so. Also nice touch achieving the 3 phase with the linkages that way, offsetting the two and running one off the primary.
The most amazing thing is that it doesn´t play all the notes with the same intensity, it has a dynamic range of sounds which makes this machine a true orchestra, Thanks Martin for this cool video, love your work and the unique sound of Wintergatan, cheers from Chile!!
Indeed! But when the guy mentioned, that it is a speacial day to open the doors of the orchestrion, I am afraid that when I manage to visit the museum one day all instruments will be closed up (and probably only play on guided tours, wich is totally ok). I'd love to get just a little bit more insight into those machines from these videos to get a better idea how they work... maybe i'm spoiled by the marble machine as you can see every moving part on it!
Yes very much true. I can visit the museam since it's fairly close to where I live. I wanna understand how those paper rolls work in relation to the instruments. I imagine it works similar to a music box/organ but the paper looks much thinner so idk. Very interesting stuff
Many of them work on a vacuum system. A vacuum is kept where the paper crosses the platen. Where a hole is punched in the paper, the vacuum in that line is released, allowing a valve to open and causing an action via pneumatic action. The action depends on the instrument, of course: air through pipes, air or vacuum into/out of a bellow to move a hammer onto a percussion instrument, etc. There are some videos on youtube that show how old pipe organs work, which would be a similar system. (One such organ with videos on youtube is the Wanamaker organ in Philadelphia)
Depends on size and age. This one probably could work without electricity. Someone would just need to crank it instead of having an electric motor do it.
Depression is all i have known for the past several months. The last few videos I have watched have made me smile more than i have in months. TY the tears i cry are of joy
It is staggering what efforts were done a century ago by inventors/builders to create music, considering the limited solutions technology offered back then. This machine has to be the quintessence of orchestrion building, not to mention the pleasant sound it makes. I would listen to it for the rest of my life! (I would really like to hear it play different tunes....) Thanks Martin for sharing this! A million likes!
Well it is... But you do realize that the piece of machinery that you used to view this video and post this comment might not be nice with bells and whistle and old wood... Yet, technically, it's far beyond? I'm happy to see people admiring the work to build a machine, but don't forget to see ALL machines around you that you might dismiss because it's part of the landscape... (No it's not an Ode to the Terminator, it's a reminder from a computer programmer ;) ).
How possible would it be to create a more modern MIDI sheet and play it on a similair instrument just to see how it sounds, maybe some kind of modern pop or dance and see how it sounds on one of these machines?
Exactly, actually. Midi is basically an electronic version of the paper scroll notation seen in this video. Which is awesome, btw! (The video, not paper scroll notation). The work that must have gone into this instrument is unbelievable. I mean it's the twenties, not the 19th century, but still. Amazing.
I want to go to the Speelklok museum so badly but I'm just a poor German student how is liven way down in the South and can't go there. So big thanks to you that I can get a little look on all this crazy and kind of magical Instruments. I am so thankfull.
You could go to the Elztalmuseum in Waldkirch. Only a few orchestrions but many great fairground organs... all originally built there!: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elztalmuseum
Wooooooow! Just wow! The complex mechanisms,the timing, the idea of it all is ...I can't find a word to describe who built this amazing orchestrion, WHATTA COORDINATED BRAINS THEY HAVE. WOOOW!
We visited the Speelklok Museum in Utrecht a couple of weeks ago. The Paganini was also demonstrated to us (with the same song :-)) Of course we also went to the Marble Machine! It was so cool to see the Machine in real life! Thanks Martin!
One machine doing the job of 15 musicians, at the end of the 19th century? This was really ahead of its time. This would've been touted as a 'technological breakthrough' in those days.
+enkamui it is actually digital because the input is in ones and zeroes (hole or no hole). But as others above already stated it works by mechanics and the only electrical part is the motor.
Totally cool, I was trained in the maintenance and repair of Victorian jacquard Wilton carpet looms... it is so awesome to see this tech in action! ...thank you :)
I love watching the mechanical systems of these giant music boxes in action. The same for the Marble Machine. The music they play and the range of instruments covered are amazing.
Martin, If you have ever crawled around inside an 1854 Mechanical Pipe Organ (tracker action) or similar (as have I), you will see many similar mechanisms. Clever organ builders of many countries have been building the most complex music machines for many centuries. Composers such as Handel, Mozart, Beethoven and others composed for human played pipe organs and automaton mechanical clocks and organs as well. Some of these machines could record a human player's performance onto paper rolls for later editing and playback, similar to a modern MIDI sequencer. Perhaps you know all this, but many of your followers may not.
wow but no matter how mechanical success this orchestrion might be, having it accessible exclusively on fancy restaurant, surely won't pull a 30M views at its time. and now you guys made it free for public to see. great approach.
I really loved the Dutch book in witch you placed the notes. Especially for the reason that you only look at the pictures because you can't read Dutch :p
When I was in college, at some point, I remember seeing a collection of music machines. And also saw some at House on the Rock, in Wisconsin. One of the coolest type of machines ever made. Nice to see video of these, as so few chances to see them in person.
What a fabulous peice of engendered beauty. People who built this would need to be so skillful. So many aspects to produce especially when it was made.
This is seriously my favorite RU-vid channel. Found through the marble machine, stumbled on a gold mine of fantastic videos. Keep it up, much love from Texas!
I think I stumbled upon this channel from a sidebar recommendation after watching a D. Marble video about Flat Earth. Been hooked on Martin's stuff ever since. Nice diversion from my normal diet of conspiracy videos.
Thanks a lot for featuring this great orchestrion! Great quality recording... you can hear the dynamics pretty well. Of course, once the panels are open for visibility (especially the right front panel, which partially covers the pipe chamber), some of the dynamic ability given the pipes by the swell shutters in the "roof" of the case goes "out the window" (or pretty literally, out the door!) but still this is an exquisite arrangement and a perfect choice for this instrument because you get nice dynamic shadings from the piano, interesting chords, great musical contrasts, and solos from the clarinet, flute, violin, etc.! Also, the drums and other percussion (triangle, tambourine) are used, but sparingly, unlike say a march or many popular rolls where they're playing more frequently. My one real quibble in terms of the videography is that you guys didn't show the upper interior of the instrument with most of the actual musical instruments... it remains in shadow. There's great footage of the front part of the lower interior showing power and control mechanisms, with the pumps, roll changer, wind motor driving the roll, and glockenspiel, but it would be nice to have also seen the piano (in the back of the case, behind the roll frame) in action while playing, and also the drums and other trapwork playing (in the upper left, visible with the door open, but not illuminated here). Those are always great for action shots. Of course, the pipes (violin, flute, clarinet, cello etc) are located in the swell box in the upper right, and given the chest design, there isn't any moving "action" to see, since it's just wind going through the pipes which is invisible, but would have been nice to include a still or pan of the pipework anyway, since that's most of what we're actually hearing! There's also the harmonium which hangs on the back of the case, and I *think* may have visible pallet valves. If so, this would be prime for some "action shots". Otherwise, an excellent video! I think the instrument is possibly playing about the best it's played since it came to the museum decades ago... I'm not sure. We'd all love to know who arranged this roll at Philipps. If anyone has that info, please post! Unfortunately most orchestrion music arrangers remained anonymous since their names were left off the rolls... just the titles and composers were given.
I love watching these videos, and not just for the machines (and those are impressive beyond belief). Your accent draws me in and makes me pay attention when I would otherwise just listen half heartedly. Thank you!
When I was growing up (around 17 years old) I met a man named Rayle who restored old orchestras and other player-instruments...even though he was totally tone-deaf! He enjoyed taking a "bunch of wood/metal and restoring it to its original glory!" He used a auto-tuner to tune up the different instruments. He also made an adjustable music roll punch machine...which could produce/replicate over 18 styles/patterns of music rolls/books. He was a true craftsman! Repaired/made missing wood, metal, pipes, machinery, etc...everything needed to make the machines run again! None were hand-grind, all were motor driven. Mr. Rayle eventually opened up an old-fashioned ice cream shoppe (complete with tin ceilings) with many of his machines in a back "orchestral" room...including a player violin. He turned out to be a better restorer than a shoppe owner...and closed after 2 years. He now lives up in the state of Washington and has a successful vineyard. He has some of his machines on the winery grounds and can be played...he still tinkers! -) TQQdles™
These orcestrions and band organs really are like Animusic in real life, especially seeing how the drums and the percussion work. Just imagine, if we could do this kind of stuff back in the 20s, we could be able to do a lot more today! Especially with the fact that there are now such things as midi-controlled lasers. That's why we all love the Marble Machine, it kind of brings what these antique self-playing instruments brought us into the 21st century, if that makes any sense lol :)
It's a pity that on this machine we cannot see very much of the mechanism. We cannot see the triangle, the pipes or the piano. Also it would have been nice if the the function of oll the parts we could see were described. Perhaps some of this detail was lost with the the designer/engineers. For example the little brass containers near the axils of the fulcrums driving the bellows look like they might be small oil cans, continuously lubricating the mechanism. This machine was built to last!
cuando veo estas maravillosas máquinas, me quedo fascinado de escucharlas. es una maravilla que sigan funcionando. Felicidades y gracias por compartir estas bellas obras de arte.
there's just something incredibly fascinating about the orcestians. as someone obsessed with figuring out how things work, thank you for these amazing videos!
These are great videos I am so thankful that the museum and you show these wonderful works of art to the world. As a person who builds in his free time and is a concert tuba player I thanks you for your work in these videos.
This reminded of the WWII aviation built by a company who made organs, or something like that. Here in Colorado Springs, they have a working model of it, and you can see the mindset of the company who built it, was all about bellows and such things, for the mechanical movement of the trainer ( the student sat in this wooden box, and learned to fly by instrument.)
Well, yes, that's because you're actually hearing real instruments... not some fake electronic imitations of instruments... this is the real thing. That's why it sounds so much like a real band. Yes, I know this reply is like 4 years late... but that doesn't really matter :)))
What a wonderful machine. I would love to see that first hand. All the moving parts just make me happy, and the music is good to boot. If I ever have unlimited funds, I should consider trying to create a similar machine for my house. It would be popular at parties I am sure.
So happy to see a new video from you ^-^ I wonder what happend last wednesday but I'm glad you're here again :D Thanks for a new video of another wonderful machine!! ^-^
Wintergatan Are you kidding? These machines are engineering marvels! You don't see craftsmanship like this, anymore. They are a wonder to behold. You'd have to be a complete idiot not appreciate this masterpiece.
Listening about the 6th or 7th time, I just noticed the castanet at 5:50... it's so subtle you can hardly hear it. I daresay every voice in this orchestrion gets to solo here, except perhaps bells and harmonium. I think violin, piccolo, flute, cello, clarinet, piano, all get their turn, and it sounds like all the untuned percussion are used... with good musical taste to suit this piece of course! Besides being an excellent and highly memorable piece by Mr. Dvorak, you've picked a perfect demonstration for this orchestrion, thanks again!
The question is about the engineering and creativity! 100 years ago which makes your creations very shy, yet, I love what you do. FYI: I cannot improve upon you, you are the "genius" here (between quotes)
I really like these videos showing stuff i would probably never get a chance to see (since the museum is quite far away from me). But if one day in my life I ever have the chance to come check out the museum i sure will! Have a nice day everyone !
I really want to hear this orchestrion play The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, by Benjamin Britten. Or maybe an arrangement for this machine, called The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestrion ;)
Wintergatan Your work you have done, and many more in future will fascinate me, but what fascinates me more is the incredible mechanical machines in the Speelklok Museum, I would love to visit someday.
Interesting 3-phase bellows thing happening with an air reservoir, but had the feeling that all the action of playing the music was still mostly hidden from view in this instance. That's not to discount that this is an awesome sounding machine.
