The typewriter made a great percussion instrument. In the hands of a skillful typist, it churned out a steady rhythm with each episode punctuated by a satisfying bell. Have you forgotten the sound and the physical satisfaction of mastering the device? No electronic gadget, handy as they are, can quite match it.

We talk about how music preserves our heritage, and here’s a somewhat whimsical example: Leroy Anderson’s “The Typewriter.” It also fits in a genre best described as “machine music” in which composers depicted our technological age, from steam locomotives to “My Grandfather’s Clock.”

I was reminded of “The Typewriter” when a friend sent me this YouTube, and that reminded me of a short podcast I did on this topic a while back.

So I invite you to listen to the podcast below for some background on the music, and then watch the video to see how clever staging brings it all to life.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download