Pat Metheny Introduces "Orchestrion"

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.

[@murphyec]

when you do the whole group project yourself.

[@siriusfeline]

...and invent and build all the instruments.

[@kantonakcrab]

Took him over half a year😂

[@Elixear]

I saw Orchestrion on stage in Nantes (France) in 2010. I was with a friend, and we were staring like a rabbit in front of car lights when the big curtain that were covering the instruments in wood boxes fell down. All the audience just wowed. Then, he began to play. It's kinda impossible to describe. He's played three or four pieces with this installation and then took the microphone to explain how it worked... a little. At the end of the concert, we were allowed to get near the stage and take pictures. I will never forget this amazing and unique display, as the whole concert of course. (Stéphane from France).

[@YoshiTRoN1]

I hope he revisits this. He’s talked about revisiting it again aside the “mini-orchestrion” that he has with more recent lineups. I got to see parts of it with the Side-Eye tour, but not to your extent. Sounds like you had an amazing experience!

[@Elixear]

@@YoshiTRoN1 It was at "La Cité des Congrès" in Nantes, a large 2000 seats hall and the sound was incredible. On every box and on every device that supported or contained an acoustic instrument, there was a small red led that lit up when the instrument was playing. Thus, the audience could clearly distinguish... the score from the improvisation by looking at the flashing LED sequences. It was crazy to realize that we were the only ones to see and hear this prodigious installation.

[@Andronicus2007]

This guy has created the world's biggest, most expensive and best sounding VST plugin!

[@jeff5333g]

Haven't we always known how brilliant this man is?

[@corylombard]

Ah...and not one bone of cockiness.

[@jorgedelfino2948]

He is a fucking genius, maybe most talented musician alive, period!

[@siriusfeline]

Correction...SUPER genius.

[@jamesonwlucas]

The way jazz makes me feel takes me back to my childhood. It makes me think of Christmas time...(when I get to spend it with my family). Pat is just so amazing.

[@cdang10]

Even the best players you can think of have only a few songs that are the cream, the real blow you away " brought it all together" tunes, some have a hand full where they really "Did it" "This is a tune". But Pat Metheny...... To me every tune I'v heard from Pat is a tune anyone else would take a lifetime to get to. Every Song. Every song melts into me like I am playing it myself. Magic ! Talent ! He is just something else !!!

[@ekathe85]

If there was a Nobel music prize, this... this is it.

[@morbidmanmusic]

hardly. it's midi sequencing (been around) with analogue instruments. It has been done.

[@kevinjonesmusic]

I can relate to this since I play all of my own instruments. It’s like your imprint, style of improvisation, touch is unique and the same at the same time. It’s like you as 1 person have an identity for each instrument and the style is distinct. Hard to explain. Pat is a musical genius and I have a lot of great memories tied to his music.

[@sequentialgear]

this guy is space age... this is magical,beautiful!

[@lastdaysguitar]

Pat's maturity and growth as an artist never ceases to amaze: Thanks PM for sharing your gift.

[@sambking]

Pat RULES! Still pushing the envelope after all these years! Beautiful!

[@kristopherdetar4346]

I totally get this. A few years ago I got to experience one of those vintage Orchestral wagons that a technician had painstakingly restored and was touring it around at little fairs. Metheny has taken that concept, expanded it to his liking and needs. What a rush to be able to play for hours and not be interrupted with anyone too tired, or needing to use the bathroom and whatever. He can be absorbed into his own tapestry of musical creation and not be disturbed by anyone. Simply awesome and most obviously genius. Loved it !!

[@henrybonruiz]

Love this 'til the End of Time! Thank you very much.

[@bouldermk]

Just saw Pat perform last night in Denver....awesome...amazing....

[@tedl7538]

Pat Metheny, the musical gift to the world that just keeps on giving and giving....love you Pat!

[@StyleViewStudio]

I am a visual artist - but As the timate music consumer-Pat Matheney's sound is practically magical! It is poetic and memorable.Thanks -Tsvetana

[@JazzyZenBrotha]

Wow! Pat is amazing! He is really showing his genius. I've to get this album!

[@mulotwo]

Beautiful work !

[@gushale3306]

This still blows me away 😮

[@recesq]

I went to this concert at UNC last week. UNREAL! PHENOMENOL!!!! I've been a fan of Pat's for over 20 yrs....but to see him live, for the first time, and on this particular tour will be unforgettable. I really hope a Blu Ray DVD of this tour is released.

[@CarlosA2587]

This is amazing.

[@ericweatherby9628]

I always enjoy seeing the union of the STEM and art worlds like this. :)

[@cindipossidento5688]

Pat Metheny is a musical genius! No one else out there with his ingenuity.... The man is amazing.... I have seen him only once, but would love to see him again.... Love u Pat 🥰👏👏👏🥰

[@elperroquehabla1978]

Hoy lo vi en vivo en Miami ,y estuvo grosisimo,muy bueno !!! imprecionante la maquinaria musical q se mando Aguante Pat !!!

[@brianmi40]

For the interested, you can see many Orchestrians at the House On The Rock in Wisconsin. They truly are amazing. Makes me wonder if Pat has visited it.

[@jocknarn3225]

the Mad Scientist of Music .. more power, mate! Lost track of Pat's work after the mid-90s .. after We Live Here & his gr8 live albums @ the time .. been curious about this project 4 a few yrs .. glad 4 the encounter .. just the push i need 2 refocus on my studies

[@L77kim77l]

Really beautiful

[@clovis2012]

He's on a whole other level most guys, even the other greats will never reach. Saw him in person on the Austin City Limits taping and it was like he was from another world.

[@ddttue]

Ayer disfruté la ocasión de asistir al concierto con el que Pat nos deleito en Logroño, nunca lo olvidaré fué simplemente "Genial" nadie se imaginaba lo que iba a ver allí. Tremendamente recomendable en directo.

[@bitnize]

I saw him recently live in concert Tivoli, Copenhagen, performing the entire new album which was great. He also talked about the project in a humorous way. Among other tunes performed were "Make Piece", "The Sound of Water" (piccasso guitar) (love the sound he get's on that guitar (as well as the synth guitar), "Antonia", ended with "Stranger In Town" and "Sueno con Mexico", in all a great great concert from a great man/musician.

[@kevinjunior7210]

we are blessed to have pat in our descenie

[@Manulosio]

Pat Metheny forever!!!

[@polucas]

Ive seen him yesterday in Valladolid (Spain) and he was excellent, i couldn't ever imagine something like that, its impossible to describe it, you jsuthave to see it.

[@tiffanydouglas2686]

This legendary musician is a one-man band!

[@ElizabethDayMusic]

it's animusic for composition, improvisation, and live performance 😍 dream rig

[@davidpena]

He uses this on his 2021 tour to great effect.

[@scscotto]

He had a smaller version Thursday night here in Charleston on his Dream Box tour. Never seen anything like it till that night and then found these videos. Just incredible !!

[@alesall]

PAT you are not human and this will give you immortality!! Thank you for all your work.

[@justinj1zalientoxic]

Wow how awesome

[@Elin48]

Finally, I saw him in person, last Saturday in Berkeley, CA. It was wonderful, but definitely, I would have loved to hear him play my favorite of his, "Are You Going My Way?"

[@stevemurch3245]

“Are You Going With Me”

[@1cosmicdebris]

You rock Pat Metheny!!!!

[@JosePedroSantos777]

One of my virtuous guitarrist that I prefer! What an virtuos work! I imagine the work that whole process must be taken!

[@vicesquadpunk]

Really amazing...like the old steam fair music attractions we had in UK, takes me back to childhood. A visual treat as well as aural. Now, here's an idea how would this concept sit with Buckethead ??? Pat / Buckethead / Roborchestra .. the mind boggles... Peace x

[@siebeth]

Great! Great! Great!!

[@melibass]

i love this mo fo since th first time i heard the first song by him have u heard and them through with jaco til seret story to all th albums but this is AMAZIN!!!!!!!!!AND M A GIRL I WISH TO C HIM LIVE ONCE IN MY LIFE!! GOD BLESS U AND YR T SHIRT WITH STRIPES!!!!

[@mdpetersenz]

INCREIBLE...MUY BUEN ALBUM

[@edgaba]

Genius!

[@blakeclarkson9954]

Definitely a genius! Very cool!

[@freckero]

La verdad es que fue increíble lo de anoche en Riojaforum de Logroño , no podia creer que controlace todos los instrumentos con su guitarra , una coordinación y maestría nunca vista. fueron poco más de 2 horas de deleite musical..si llegase a volver me apunto enceguida.

[@Sandro18083]

Wow Revolution... I Liket!!!

[@Elin48]

@eysikal Pat Metheny - I love what he's done with his music, he's evolving it. He could have stayed content as so many musicians do, with what had already become a successful career, but instead he's moved on. He's a brave musician, most likely a genius.

[@OrlyWaitYeah]

are you fucking kidding me thus is the most amazing thing I have ever seen

[@martinstender]

I'm a huge fan of Larry Carlton and Robben Ford and related bluesy players, but Pat Metheny just keeps blowing me away. He is truly a musical genius who just happens to be playing the guitar.

[@sry110]

This is another reason why he is the absolute best.

[@mayorc]

@BeatBay Great infos, thanks :)

[@Guajiraband]

WOW ! I Don't belive it ! Pat lives in the futur... that's my explenation.

[@teaspoon103084]

dude what the heck man?!!! Pat Metheny is a genius.

[@eysikal]

@Elin48 Yes, I agree. I was merely poking a little fun at your mistake in the title of your favorite song of his. "Are You Going with Me" is the correct title.

[@giordash]

I want one

[@fendweller]

He started the last tune with a riff that was doubled by the bass. He said 'something's not right', fiddled and tried again. Someone yelled 'turn it off and back on again,' but same result. So he played Phase Dance acapella. Then he started Sueno on the acoustic, creating a loop to play over, but this also cut out, so he did the tune just on the Ibanez.Pat remained gracious throughout but was clearly crestfallen. It later emerged (see Yahoo grp) it was his fault - user error.

[@grandsonoff]

Это просто класс,талантище...

[@spryrecords5418]

To paraphrase Metheny's words, "Apart from Bach (and Pat!) we all suck!!!" Always magical and a true genius.

[@Hettbone1]

@rekingooo good one

[@turnaroundphraseNY]

@LyleMays;Let cool yourself down!! cool down!!!

[@mayorc]

@mayorc Sorry I meant the pick not the pickup ! :)

[@funghifunkin]

my question is how all the rythmic patterns were created? is it the same simultaneous response as with the piano?? amazing!!!!

[@kennedymbiko2697]

Complete Musician by a mile

[@PurplePlayer99]

@tehvirisken Did he play any of his older songs with the new equipment? Please tell me !!! Im going to see him in May, i can't wait - thank you

[@miriamele3]

@jessfancher LOL Pat Metheny hasn't changed his hair in the last 30 years! He looks exactly the same, just a bit older, as he did when I saw him in concert back in 1980 in my student days.

[@sambking]

@availablelight1 .....are you kidding? Pat is pioneering something. Who else has gone to this extreme and could even pull something like this off?

[@lookalulu]

celui que je considère comme le dernier génie musical remet le couvert avec une nouvelle trouvaille technologique (une de plus), j'ai vu le calendrier de sa tournée, rien en France à part une virée à Coutances en janvier dernier passée inaperçue, une date a Gand, cinq en Italie (je ne parle même pas de la Corée et du Japon)... il nous boude ou bien ? spirit of the air est mon préféré de l'album, un peu dans l'esprit de first circle.

[@WilliamSlaght]

@availablelight1 What are you talking about? Pat has an intense imagination and creative vision... He does tell a story, wtf are you talking about...

[@davidghilomur]

I am a great PM fan but I am not sure he convinced me. I would have tosee this stuff live.

[@mayorc]

@BeatBay Yes can someone explain technically why does he use the pickup in that way ?

[@eysikal]

@Elin48 "Are You Going My Way?" lol

[@bergkamp48]

Saw Pat at this year's Monterey Jazz Festival. Had the orchestrion which was "interesting" but far preferred his set with Christian McBride and Jack DeJohnette.

[@taku221]

Holy god.....unbelievable. Is all instruments controlled in MIDI? He don't need player except him!

[@Elin48]

@eysikal ...lol, I see, I must have been very tired when I wrote it. That happens sometimes. I guess I was confusing Pat Metheny with Frank Sinatra.

[@KenobiM11]

Pat Metheny is without a doubt the musician with the highest level of knowledge and talent of our time. He is the greatest of this era. If the great master Yoda where a human and played the guitar, he would have an afro kind-of hair style :D

[@CoolPotatoBeans]

@InVINCEab13 wow, tell me, who do you listen to? this is by far the most impressive thing pat metheny has ever done. and metheny has accomplished a lot in music.

[@fendweller]

Ah - now I know what the last tune was supposed to be. In London we didn't get to hear it because the orchestrion gave out. We got unaccompanied Phase Dance instead. And Sueno went wrong as well. Poor Pat.

[@imbra]

4:56 Wooow! Those frets have seen some better days. I mean, I know he doesn't like re-fretting his guitars, but this is ridiculous.

[@jamesha175]

there is a wizard right there. tell you what

[@infinaneek]

please! what is that song at the start! I NEED IT IN MY LIFE!

[@thundercloud4183]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6erh5tql9aUhbM

[@Elixear]

The song is called "Orchestrion", and it's the first track of the same named album, released in 2010.

[@alexianblue]

If you look at these days, you can state that everything has been done and played with and about the guitar. This attempt sounds like Pat Metheny's will to put the gap between him and the rest of all modern guitar players, saying: "I'm a top guitar player, but I'm also a complete musician, a mind devoted to the music, a genius". Metheny can be all he wants: a real bebopper, a traditional jazz musician, a rocker, fusion, acoustic music... Unique.

[@EgoShredder]

I'm curious to know what Rock music he has produced?

[@JEvans-fz2qt]

Damn! He now needs nobody......I wonder what Prince could have done? Amazing!

[@MrPyroguru]

Does he pick with the side of his pick?

[@RealDiaz]

Pat is my favorite jazz player hands down today but it would be nice if he left the orchestrion at home. There is no way and I repeat NO WAY that a machine will replicate the deftness and subtlety of the human actually playing the instrument. We are talking milliseconds here folks in the difference of interpretation and volume nuances as well.

[@lightaces]

6:27, that guitar needs a refret!!!!

[@RealDiaz]

Take it easy guys, there was a guy named Zappa who was producing records when Pat was still in diapers. He did some amazing things with a synclavier you should be familiar with by now if your as hip as AmericanDiaz

[@gerardotejada2531]

No real jazz fan can take Zappa seriusly. Bill Frissel is a good competitor for the title of greatest Jazz Guitar after Wes.

[@RealDiaz]

@@gerardotejada2531 Bill Frisell sucks!

[@Mad05934]

Wow...midi

[@bacanito]

@bitcheznhos can't stop laughing...love sarcasm!

[@LS-oq3qh]

If Mr. Metheny were an engineer or a scientist, he would be Dr Metheny and become Nicolas Tesla coming back to life in 21th century. His hairstyle is very Dr Brownish. And his studio looks like a laboratory.

[@unwashedmime]

what is the song he's playing at the very beginning?

[@poopsintub]

It's the title track on his Orchestrion album.

[@poopsintub]

In case you are still wondering 9 years later.

[@micheldelisle3137]

C’est tout nouveau pour moi?

[@jeffdawson2786]

This is kind of creepy, but Pat deserves it.

[@bsd9794]

animusic and Miniature Drums and Miniature Electro Guitar Red and Miniature Xylophone and Miniature Djembe and Miniature Accordion I love robot band and chopsticks and iPad and I love hp laptop

[@windyhillbomber]

Last time I saw this haircut on a musician was Beethoven. Coincidence?

[@BuddyGreenbloom]

Its sad, He's a brilliant musician in fanciful isolation.

[@Zetafb]

Que le pasa a este negro... cada vez es más raro jaja... groso!!!