Boston Typewriter Orchestra

The Boston Typewriter Orchestra (BTO) is a 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.[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 ties,[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
  • The Revolution Will Be Typewritten! (2006)
  • Overtime at the Piano Factory – Live (2008)
  • Termination Without Prejudice, Volume 1 (2017)
  • Workstation to Workstation (2020)

Performing members

Current

Former
  • Jim Barnes
  • Tim Devin
  • James Hodge
  • Erik Lindahl
  • Richard Maddalo
  • Tom S
  • Jeff Breeze

References
  1. Boston Typewriter Orchestra
  2. BBC World Service – Outlook, Boston Typewriter Orchestra
  3. "NPR Choice page". choice.npr.org. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  4. "Boston Typewriter Orchestra: The Revolution Will Be Typewritten". CBS Boston. 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  5. "Jamming with the Boston Typewriter Orchestra". www.mentalfloss.com. 2016-12-08. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  6. "Human Resources | The Boston Typewriter Orchestra". Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  7. "r/typewriters - Boston Typewriter Orchestra - Termination Without Prejudice, Deluxe Edition: The Correction Tape". reddit. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  8. Boston Orchestra Makes Typewriters Sing
  9. Langston Hughes' 113th Birthday Google Doodle
  10. Playing Against Type
  11. The Post | “An Exhilarating Thriller" TV Commercial | 20th Century FOX
  12. Projects by Jason | The Blunderwood Portable | directed by Juan Mandelbaum
  13. The Blunderwood Portable | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
  14. Orchestra Plays Music Using Only Typewriters!
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