Courtesy of World Class Jazz Guitarist Pat Metheny
Recall the hurdy gurdy man and his hand cranked music box with flaying widgets and cacophonous gadgets that produced a decently recognizable but joyous tune? It was not so much the music that was the attraction as it was the wondrous whirring mechanics of it all. On Thursday, April 29 at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, the world class jazz guitarist Pat Metheny explores the physics of mechanical music machines with a much higher level of musicality by performing a solo concert with the aid of his custom designed orchestrion.
The website Musee Mechanique defines an orchestrion as “A self-contained large automatic musical instrument equipped with several different instruments in imitation of an orchestra. It usually contains some percussion effects (e.g., drums, cymbal, triangle, etc.).” It uses a piano roll to play different tunes.
This Wurlitzer orchestrion at the Musee is from approximately 1912 and is a “Style B” which includes violins and flutes.
Pat Metheny has been a stellar jazz guitarist for many years with commercial success and 17 grammys to his credit. Mr. Metheny is also noted for being at the forefront of jazz guitar and composition exploration.
Metheny reports from his website (Pat Metheny.com) “This project represents a conceptual direction that merges an idea from the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the technologies of today to create a new, open-ended platform for musical composition, improvisation and performance. “Orchestrionics” is the term that I am using to describe a method of developing ensemble-oriented music using acoustic and acoustoelectric musical instruments that are mechanically controlled in a variety of ways, using solenoids and pneumatics. With a guitar, pen or keyboard I am able to create a detailed compositional environment or a spontaneously developed improvisation, with the pieces on this particular recording leaning toward the compositional side of the spectrum. On top of these layers of acoustic sound, I add my conventional electric guitar playing as an improvised component.
At least for me, this takes the term “solo record” into some new and interesting areas, somewhat recontextualizing the idea of what constitutes a solo performance by a single musician. This project is the result of a lifelong dream in this area that dates back to my early youth. ”
I have seen Mr. Methany in a number of concerts including the concert on the pier series in Seattle and a very special engagement at Harlequin Productions State Theater about 10 years ago. Each time he has presented jazz guitar and composition in a totally different approach and always hits the ball out of the park.
Although this modern day hurdy gurdy elevation is tricky I expect fireworks. It has been reported that it takes at least three days to set up his custom orchestrion for a performance. The composition and guitar virtuosity should be stellar. The orchestrion sound will be that of which we have never experienced before. This could be one of the most amazing concert experiences not only to be heard but to be seen up close and personal.

Thursday April 29, 2010 at 7:30 PM – 
The Washington Center for the Performing Arts – Stage I

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Dan Weiss is a continuing student of live theatre having served on several boards of local live performance groups and attended over 100 live theatre productions from Olympia to Broadway with Ashland in between. Dan also is founding member and current president of the Arts Alliance of Downtown Olympia which promotes the downtown Olympia theatre district. In this process Dan has learned not to be intimidated by Shakespeare and marvels at the genius of it all.