Music Machine Mondays

October 2, 2017 7:52 PM

Wintergatan's Marble Machine (previously) was originally inspired by a visit to the Speelklok Museum in Utrecht. As work on a new machine proceeds, Martin Molin is hosting a series of videos with the museum explaining and demonstrating various machines in their collection.

Musical machines covered so far:

Phonoliszt Violina Orchestrion
The Carillion
Polyphon Disc Changing Music Box
De Schuyt Dance Organ
Philipps Pianella Paganini Orchestrion
Bruder Barrel Organ with Automata
Grandiola Player Piano
Domtoren Clock Tower Carillion
Steinway Duo Art Reproducing Grand Piano

The museum also has its own channel with more videos.

posted by ckape (8 comments total)

I've really enjoyed all of these and I look forward to the completion of the MarbleMachineX. Highly recommend the Carillion video.
posted by RolandOfEld at 9:24 PM on October 2, 2017 [1 favorite]

Thanks for posting this! I've been watching Martin's videos for a while after trying to learn the marble machine song on piano. He's fun and inspiring to watch no matter what he's talking about.
posted by mmoncur at 9:42 PM on October 2, 2017 [1 favorite]

Carillions are just the coolest. I pick up carillion records (they exist) whenever I see them.
posted by rhizome at 11:17 PM on October 2, 2017

I just went to the Speelklok Museum a few weeks ago. The tour included a chance to listen to an enormous carnival organ that played a MIDI of Michael Jackson's classic old-timey dance tune, "Thriller."

I laughed so hard that I started crying. Looks like the museum's channel has several other songs being played on the same organ, so I guess that'll be the next 20 minutes or so for me.
posted by wakannai at 1:25 AM on October 3, 2017 [2 favorites]

I was at the Speelklok last month, and we got treated to "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" from Monty Python! Molin's Marble Machine was there too, looking kind of sad and ragged off in a corner upstairs. For some reason, they wouldn't let me turn the crank.
posted by moonmilk at 5:51 AM on October 3, 2017 [1 favorite]

(I made my own tiny demo video there!)
posted by moonmilk at 5:57 AM on October 3, 2017 [1 favorite]

It's been almost 20 years since I went to the Speelklok, and it's still one of my very favourite places in the world. If you happen to be even on the same continent, go: it's utterly wonderful.
posted by scruss at 8:49 AM on October 3, 2017

Having just suffered through 15 minutes or so of them butchering the pronunciation of "stroopwafel" on GBBO, it's: "Spay-l-cloak"
posted by humboldt32 at 9:30 AM on October 3, 2017