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Pat Metheny - Orchestrion Project ...Project Preview I have been very lucky over the years to have many opportunities to explore a wide range of ideas as a musician. The quest to find new ways of thinking about things and the process of trying to come up with a personal perspective on music has been a major priority along the way, almost from the very beginning. The Orchestrion Project is a leap into new territory. This project represents a recently developed conceptual direction for me that involves the merging of an idea from the late 19th- and early 20th-centuries with the technologies of today to create an open-ended platform for musical invention and performance. "Orchestrionics" is the term that I am using to describe a new performance method to present music alone onstage using acoustic and acoustoelectric musical instruments that are mechanically controlled using the power of modern technology. In early 2010 a new recording will be released on Nonesuch. It will be a "solo" record in that I am the only musician—but a CD that in some ways recontextualizes the term. Some background. In the late 1800's and early 1900's, as player pianos emerged (pianos played mechanically by moving rolls of paper through a mechanism that physically moved the keys), the next logical step was to apply that same principle to a range of orchestral instruments, often including percussion and mallet instruments. These large instrument arrays were called Orchestrions. For a number of years now, I have been gathering the forces of a group of talented and innovative inventors and technicians from around the country to construct a large palette of acoustic sound-producing devices that I can organize as a new kind of Orchestrion. The principle instruments have been designed and built for me by the incredibly talented Eric Singer, who is a major innovator in this area of engineering. A small number of musicians have been doing things like this in recent years as the mechanics of it all has evolved. And naturally, in many ways, it has been as much about the technology as the musical result. My only goal here, however, is a musical one. Now nearly 10 years into the new century it feels like time to try to create something particularly connected to the reality of this unique period in time. The issue of context is crucial to this project. As much as I have and will continue to enjoy playing in traditional formats (solo, duets, trios, quartets and quintets, various large ensembles, the Pat Metheny Group, however one might place that in this spectrum), the urge to investigate what might be possible in this relatively unexplored corner of potential has been building. One of the inspiring hallmarks of the jazz tradition through the decades has been the way that the form has successfully ushered in musical contexts, resulting in new performance environments for players and composers. This pursuit of change and the way that innovators in jazz have reconciled the roots of the form with the new possibilities of their own time has been an inspiration and a major defining element for me in the music's evolution at every key point along the way. From new combinations of instruments and new performance techniques to technological shifts in the instruments themselves that were deployed first in jazz settings (the drum set, the use of the saxophone, the modification and adaptation of European classical instruments, the electric guitar, etc.) to large ensemble presentation and composition (big bands, etc.), jazz musicians have often been the ones trying new things, looking for new sounds. This quest, in tandem with the generation of deep and soulful content, has made the story of jazz a fascinating journey. http://www.patmetheny.com...trioninfo/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Looking forward to this release! Music for adventurous listeners tA  Tribal Records"Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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...
 I've definitely been waiting to hear/see/experience this!
I liked Pat's postcript: Pat Metheny Postscript - I have realized by now that as much as I can describe this project, even the people closest to me have had no idea what I was talking about until they have actually heard the music and had an encounter with it all in action. So, even having written all of the above, I know for sure that you still have to experience it yourself to really know what it is. it's Kool to finally see the process now! ... [Edited 1/8/10 16:02pm] " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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While we're discussing Pat Metheny...
...Too bad his complete take on the subject isn't available. Music for adventurous listeners tA Tribal Records"Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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theAudience said: While we're discussing Pat Metheny...
...Too bad his complete take on the subject isn't available.  yup, that was the comment that started it all....
... [Edited 1/8/10 18:48pm] " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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paligap said: yup, that was the comment that started it all....
Nice. Very clever. 
Music for adventurous listeners tA Tribal Records"Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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"Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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"Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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...
I love the idea of this...But I was also waiting for the big question hovering over the project...what fellow musicians, especially his group band members, thought of this...especially since he's taking this thing out on tour, just him and the orchestrion....I mean, I know he'll continue to work with them...but I wonder if they still get just a twinge of apprehenshion about all of this,
On one hand, there's nothing like the interplay between fellow musicians, especially in improvisation and idea exchange...but on the other hand, wow--could you imagine what Jimi Hendrix would have done with something like this at his disposal! To be able to get so many of those sounds you hear in your head, the way you hear them.... ... [Edited 1/27/10 11:20am] " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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paligap said: ...
I love the idea of this...But I was also waiting for the big question hovering over the project...what fellow musicians, especially his group band members, thought of this...especially since he's taking this thing out on tour, just him and the orchestrion....I mean, I know he'll continue to work with them...but I wonder if they sitll get just a twinge of apprehenshion about all of this,
On one hand, there's nothing like the interplay between fellow musicians, especially in improvisation and idea exchange...but on the other hand, wow--could you imagine what Jimi Hendrix would have done with something like this at his disposal! To be able to get so many of those sounds you hear in your head, the way you hear them.... ... [Edited 1/27/10 10:46am] I'm sure he must have warned them that this would happen at some point as he's been working on it for years. As he's touring with these contraptions (in a good way), i'm curious to know what his fall back plan is in case of any malfunctions. These all look like one of a kind devices. It boils down to "midi sequencing" using real acoustic instruments as opposed to having simulated ones or samples hidden inside a microchip. A pretty daring undertaking. The Hendrix example is a good one. Imagine Zappa having a complete set of symphonic instruments rigged this way. 
Music for adventurous listeners tA Tribal Records"Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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theAudience said: Imagine Zappa having a complete set of symphonic instruments rigged this way.
Wow...Yeah, I guess that Bass part would've been ready in the next 10 minutes, !!!
... " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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paligap said: ...
On one hand, there's nothing like the interplay between fellow musicians, especially in improvisation and idea exchange...but on the other hand, wow--could you imagine what Jimi Hendrix would have done with something like this at his disposal! To be able to get so many of those sounds you hear in your head, the way you hear them.... This is what I'm wondering too. It has the human aspect, since he's actually playing the stuff, but does an electronically rigged up machine still have the feel of a human striking a piano key? It sounds kind of gimmicky, too, if I'm being honest. It's a very cool idea, though. I am not anti-synth or anti-sequencer, but I have found that the sound of these type of instruments is hard to beat. So for a one man band, this should have a very rich tonal quality. My Legacy
http://prince.org/msg/8/192731 | |
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paligap said: theAudience said: Imagine Zappa having a complete set of symphonic instruments rigged this way.
Wow...Yeah, I guess that Bass part would've been ready in the next 10 minutes, !!!
... It was actually "How about 5 minutes". 
Music for adventurous listeners tA Tribal Records"Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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NDRU said: paligap said: ...
On one hand, there's nothing like the interplay between fellow musicians, especially in improvisation and idea exchange...but on the other hand, wow--could you imagine what Jimi Hendrix would have done with something like this at his disposal! To be able to get so many of those sounds you hear in your head, the way you hear them.... This is what I'm wondering too. It has the human aspect, since he's actually playing the stuff, but does an electronically rigged up machine still have the feel of a human striking a piano key? It sounds kind of gimmicky, too, if I'm being honest. It's a very cool idea, though. I am not anti-synth or anti-sequencer, but I have found that the sound of these type of instruments is hard to beat. So for a one man band, this should have a very rich tonal quality. I listen to the complete album a few times this morning. It doesn't sound gimmicky or mechanical. There's was only one small percussion section in one tune that sounded a bit robotic. Other than that, it sounds like a Pat Metheny album. Music for adventurous listeners tA Tribal Records"Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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theAudience said: NDRU said: This is what I'm wondering too. It has the human aspect, since he's actually playing the stuff, but does an electronically rigged up machine still have the feel of a human striking a piano key? It sounds kind of gimmicky, too, if I'm being honest. It's a very cool idea, though. I am not anti-synth or anti-sequencer, but I have found that the sound of these type of instruments is hard to beat. So for a one man band, this should have a very rich tonal quality. I listen to the complete album a few times this morning. It doesn't sound gimmicky or mechanical. There's was only one small percussion section in one tune that sounded a bit robotic. Other than that, it sounds like a Pat Metheny album. Music for adventurous listeners tA Tribal RecordsYeah it's just the idea that sounds a bit gimmicky--especially touring that way. Just like the guy on Venice Beach who plays bass with his feet while playing sax & drums is gimmicky. But in practice it's really no different than using guitar synths. I wouldn't think it's gimmicky in a way that takes away from the music. In the end it's all about how it sounds. My Legacy
http://prince.org/msg/8/192731 | |
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theAudience said: NDRU said: This is what I'm wondering too. It has the human aspect, since he's actually playing the stuff, but does an electronically rigged up machine still have the feel of a human striking a piano key? It sounds kind of gimmicky, too, if I'm being honest. It's a very cool idea, though. I am not anti-synth or anti-sequencer, but I have found that the sound of these type of instruments is hard to beat. So for a one man band, this should have a very rich tonal quality. I listen to the complete album a few times this morning. It doesn't sound gimmicky or mechanical. There's was only one small percussion section in one tune that sounded a bit robotic. Other than that, it sounds like a Pat Metheny album. Yeah, that's one of the things that struck me--how natural and free flowing it sounded, it doesn't seem programmed at all!! Actually,that's what prompted the question about how his band members felt about it--it really does capture a lot of that "Metheny Group" essence--it doesn't sound at all like one man playing and sequencing... This is another reason that it will be really important to see this and experience it visually and sonically --if you just hear the album, some people not in the know might assume it's another Group album, with all the players... ... [Edited 1/27/10 11:50am] " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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NDRU said: theAudience said: I listen to the complete album a few times this morning. It doesn't sound gimmicky or mechanical. There's was only one small percussion section in one tune that sounded a bit robotic. Other than that, it sounds like a Pat Metheny album. Music for adventurous listeners tA Tribal RecordsYeah it's just the idea that sounds a bit gimmicky--especially touring that way. Just like the guy on Venice Beach who plays bass with his feet while playing sax & drums is gimmicky. But in practice it's really no different than using guitar synths. I wouldn't think it's gimmicky in a way that takes away from the music. In the end it's all about how it sounds. I think if you read the backstory on why he did this project, you'll see that it's the farthest thing from a gimmick. Music for adventurous listeners tA Tribal Records"Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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paligap said: theAudience said: I listen to the complete album a few times this morning. It doesn't sound gimmicky or mechanical. There's was only one small percussion section in one tune that sounded a bit robotic. Other than that, it sounds like a Pat Metheny album. Yeah, that's one of the things that struck me--how natural and free flowing it sounded, it doesn't seem programmed at all!! Actually,that's what prompted the question about how his band members felt about it--it really does capture a lot of that "Metheny Group" essence--it doesn't sound at all like one man playing and sequencing... This is another reason that it will be really important to see this and experience it visually and sonically --if you just hear the album, some people not in the know might assume it's another Group album, with all the players... ... He's using a really nice venue here. I've been checking out the seating chart to see what would actually be the best vantage point: http://www.laphil.com/tic...-chart.cfm Music for adventurous listeners tA Tribal Records"Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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paligap said: theAudience said: While we're discussing Pat Metheny...
...Too bad his complete take on the subject isn't available. yup, that was the comment that started it all....
... | |
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Nice sound. It's indeed somewhere between mechanical and acoustic, not sure if you run into anything similar too often.It's distinctively "Pat Metheny" too (which is not always a good thing, but in this case it gives the music a more easy-going quality).
. | |
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theAudience said: NDRU said: Yeah it's just the idea that sounds a bit gimmicky--especially touring that way. Just like the guy on Venice Beach who plays bass with his feet while playing sax & drums is gimmicky. But in practice it's really no different than using guitar synths. I wouldn't think it's gimmicky in a way that takes away from the music. In the end it's all about how it sounds. I think if you read the backstory on why he did this project, you'll see that it's the farthest thing from a gimmick. Music for adventurous listeners tA Tribal Recordswell, it's not a gimmick like putting a KFC bucket on your head! A gimmick doesn't have to be bad. Sometimes it can be inspired. I wish they all amounted to this level of product.My Legacy
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novabrkr said: Nice sound. It's indeed somewhere between mechanical and acoustic, not sure if you run into anything similar too often.It's distinctively "Pat Metheny" too (which is not always a good thing, but in this case it gives the music a more easy-going quality).
. I guess for those of us that like dissonance as well as consonance, even his compositions that may have a bit of what might be consider a "sap factor", is OK.
Especially these days when melody/harmony seems to have taken a back seat. Music for adventurous listeners tA Tribal Records"Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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NDRU said: well, it's not a gimmick like putting a KFC bucket on your head! A gimmick doesn't have to be bad. Sometimes it can be inspired. I wish they all amounted to this level of product.You're absolutely right. I guess i'm so conditioned to the term (when used on this board) having a negative connotation. Music for adventurous listeners tA Tribal Records"Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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The music is really beautiful too, based on that second video. My Legacy
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theAudience said: NDRU said: well, it's not a gimmick like putting a KFC bucket on your head! A gimmick doesn't have to be bad. Sometimes it can be inspired. I wish they all amounted to this level of product.You're absolutely right. I guess i'm so conditioned to the term (when used on this board) having a negative connotation. Music for adventurous listeners tA Tribal RecordsI think I kind of framed it that way too, by saying "I have to say this sounds gimmicky." That sounds negative. My Legacy
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NDRU said: The music is really beautiful too, based on that second video.
All 5 tunes are very nice compositions. The first tune in the video is the first & title track on the album (Orchestrion). I view it as an introduction to the whole concept as it's the most dense (in the use of instruments) and also the longest piece (15:48). The second tune is the last track (Spirit Of The Air) My favorites at this point are the more ballad based Entry Point & Soul Search Music for adventurous listeners tA Tribal Records"Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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~ Wow !
TY :f | |
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