The instrument of choice for the Boston Typewriter Orchestra is precisely what you might think — typewriters.
The orchestra collective uses vintage typewriters to infuse their music with a distinctive rhythmic quality. Over the course of almost twenty years, the group has produced a multitude of albums.
Brendan Quigley and Derrik Albertelli, two members of Boston Typewriter Orchestra, wore their signature white buttoned-up shirts and ties for their appearance on Boston Public Radio.
“BTO is … although we do have melodic pieces in terms of like singing, and we've been introducing bells to it … it's first and foremost basically a rhythm section and sort of a drum circle on typewriters,” Quigley said.
Albertelli explained that there are two basic sounds on every typewriter: the shift key and the key itself.
“The sound of the shift key moves a bunch of the steel around, which is a low thump. And the key itself … is higher. So it becomes like a kick snare combo.”
Their instruments last about three years according to Quigley. Albertelli said, “It really depends on the make. Some of the larger desk models we've had for a super long time. The one in front of me is a Smith Corona portable, which I favor, but I blast through the keys pretty quickly. They're fragile and they just kind of break off. And I have to look, like Brendan said, like every three or four years or so, I got to get a new one.”
From the orchestra's inception, the members recognized the potential for public performances. To match their instruments, the orchestra dresses up in professional and formal attire when they perform to mimic a corporate environment.
“I think very early on we kind of said to ourselves, we're probably going to be performing in front of people at some point. Maybe we should theme this somehow as if we were in an office,” Albertelli shared.
Quigley recalled the inspiration for the orchestra as an experience like hearing the song "Last Christmas" by Wham! and imagining how it would sound if it were just typewriters. Albertelli humorously added that they recruited like-minded individuals, referring to themselves as "a bunch of goons" who wanted to embark on this unique musical journey together.
The Boston Typewriter Orchestra has ten shows lined up for the upcoming fall.
