Klarinet Archive - Posting 000252.txt from 2002/05

From: w7wright@-----.net (William Wright)
Subj: Re: [kl] Android clarinetist
Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 13:14:37 -0400

<><> Claudia Zornow wrote:
the Getty Museum's "Devices of Wonder" exhibit, to find this "Android
Clarinetist"? I've never seen anything quite like it.

If this android is anything like others that I've seen --- 25 years ago,
there was a terrific "mechanical musician" museum on Hwy 101 south of
Monterey (California), I don't know if it's still there --- then the
android doesn't actually play a clarinet.

Rather, he is a moving figure similar to the talking, dancing animal
characters that you see in theme parks. In the bench on which the
android stands, there are mechanized player pianos, horns powered by air
pumps, and so forth which produce music while the android bobs and
weaves and winks his eye at you.

This doesn't make the android any less fascinating --- especially when
you consider the equipment & materials they had in those days. No
stepper motors, no computer chips, etc.

By the way, if the museum is still there and if you're anywhere near
Monterey, the museum is worth the trip all by itself (imo)

Cheers,
Bill

================

If I had Stadler's mouthpiece, would I play better? Or do I need his
ligature also? Or perhaps he and I are different persons? If I had
Mozart's pen, would I compose better?

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