Boston Typewriter Orchestra Explained

Boston Typewriter Orchestra
Image Upright:1.2
Origin:Boston, Massachusetts, US
Years Active:2004–present
Current Members:
  • Derrik Albertelli
  • James Brockman
  • Eric Donahue
  • Alex Holman
  • Chris Keene
  • Giordana Mecagni
  • James O'Grady
  • Brendan Emmett Quigley
Past Members:
  • Jim Barnes
  • Jeff Breeze
  • Tim Devin
  • James Hodge
  • Erik Lindahl
  • Richard Maddalo
  • Steve Mazzulli
  • Tom S
  • Chris Webb

The Boston Typewriter Orchestra (BTO) is an American collective percussion ensemble for typewriter and voice, based in the Boston area. It was founded in 2004.[1]

Formation

One night in 2004, Boston-area artist Tim Devin was presented with the gift of a child's typewriter at a bar. His typing eventually annoyed the waitress who asked him to stop, whereupon he responded "It's OK, ma'am. I'm the conductor of the Boston Typewriter Orchestra."[2] Thinking there was something to the idea, he assembled a group of interested performers on the night of October 20th, 2004 in Somerville, Massachusetts.[1]

An office setting was quickly decided upon as an overarching theme for live performances. The members (usually numbering between four and eight people) perform wearing white shirts and neckties,[3] engage in typical workplace banter and write office-themed lyrics to satirical or comedic effect. The typewriters are utilized in a rhythmic fashion while melodic elements are supplied by the vocalists. The group uses several varieties of manual typewriters from such manufacturers as Underwood,[4] Smith Corona,[5] Hermes, Remington[6] and Royal.[7]

The Boston Typewriter Orchestra began performing at house parties, eventually expanding venues to clubs, arts festivals, and museums. Local and national media appearances soon followed. The group appears in the documentary California Typewriter, and their song "Entropy Begins at the Office" has been used in promotional ads for the film The Post.

Notable performances and appearances

Discography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Upcoming Shows | The Boston Typewriter Orchestra.
  2. Web site: BBC World Service - Outlook, The Boston Typewriter Orchestra. BBC.
  3. Web site: NPR Choice page. choice.npr.org. 2020-04-06.
  4. Web site: Boston Typewriter Orchestra: The Revolution Will Be Typewritten. 2011-06-06. CBS Boston. en-US. 2020-04-06.
  5. Web site: Jamming with the Boston Typewriter Orchestra. 2016-12-08. www.mentalfloss.com. en. 2020-04-06.
  6. Web site: Human Resources The Boston Typewriter Orchestra. en-US. 2020-04-06.
  7. Web site: r/typewriters - Boston Typewriter Orchestra - Termination Without Prejudice, Deluxe Edition: The Correction Tape. reddit. July 23, 2018 . en-US. 2020-04-06.
  8. Web site: Hurley . Sean . Boston Orchestra Makes Typewriters Sing . NPR . 2023-04-07 . October 9, 2008.
  9. Web site: Langston Hughes' 113th Birthday. www.google.com.
  10. Web site: Playing Against Type. January 16, 2018. April 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180414011035/https://www.greatbigstory.com/stories/the-typewriter-orchestra. dead.
  11. Web site: The Post | "An Exhilarating Thriller" TV Commercial | 20th Century FOX. www.youtube.com.
  12. Web site: Blunderwood Movie. Projects by Jason.
  13. Web site: The Blunderwood Portable | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
  14. Web site: Orchestra Plays Music Using Only Typewriters!. www.youtube.com.
  15. Web site: Boston typewriter orchestra makes music in new key, bringing old sounds of office to life. www.youtube.com.
  16. Web site: Typewriter orchestra making music in a different key. www.nbcnews.com/.

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