First performance of the reproduction Hydraulis Organ at Bath

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Video

James Lloyd
by David Henshaw
published on 23 March 2015

Alexander Henshaw plays the reproduction Roman Hydraulis, assisted by designer Richard Ellam. The apparently authentic tune is 'Aulos et Hydraulis' by German ensemble Musica Romana.
The water in the chamber holds back a smoothly-regulated reservoir of high pressure air to feed the pipes. The idea is to prevent the cyclical pulses from the bellows spoiling the steady notes of the organ, although a distinct 'beat' can be heard as the organ plays, made less obtrusive by Richard pumping in time with the music.
So - rather disappointingly - the water element doesn't actually help to create the pressure, which comes entirely from the 'manumatic' bellows on the back.

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Cite This Work

APA Style

Henshaw, D. (2015, March 23). First performance of the reproduction Hydraulis Organ at Bath. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/video/585/first-performance-of-the-reproduction-hydraulis-or/

Chicago Style

Henshaw, David. "First performance of the reproduction Hydraulis Organ at Bath." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified March 23, 2015. https://www.worldhistory.org/video/585/first-performance-of-the-reproduction-hydraulis-or/.

MLA Style

Henshaw, David. "First performance of the reproduction Hydraulis Organ at Bath." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 23 Mar 2015. Web. 03 Feb 2023.

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