Pat Metheny - Orchestrion

[Spudman]

In this seven-minute film, Pat Metheny walks viewers through the Orchestrion experience, explaining its origins and performing music from the adventurous “solo” recording that pairs the composer-guitarist with a phalanx of remarkable, custom-made instruments, played via solenoid switches and pneumatics.

http://www.nonesuch.com/media/videos/pat-metheny-introduces-orchestrion

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What's an Ochestrion?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchestrion

[tjcurtin1]

Pretty cool - I still don't get how it's all connected to his playing as he goes along... quite amazing, and there must be months (actually, I guess he said 4 years) of work behind it. I like Metheny's sensibilities as a player/composer.

[Robert]

Weird, I say.

[Spudman]

The part that made a lot of sense to me is where he mentions that the way the machine works is a response to him and where he is at in his head at the moment. I notice that when I'm using a looper. There are subtle shifts in timing and phrasing that can really enable a person to capture the essence of what they are experiencing and performing in the moment. It seems as if this machine allows him to do that too. I can see it being a very satisfying way to complete your musical vision. I'm just not sure whether or not you have to be a rocket scientist to set the machine up. It' not very portable either.