Wintergatan - Marble Machine (music instrument using 2000 marbles)

Wintergatan
1 Mar 201604:33

TLDRWintergatan's Marble Machine is an incredible musical instrument that uses 2,000 marbles to create a mesmerizing melody. The video captures the start-up sounds of the machine, with marbles rolling and instruments gradually joining in. The vibraphone, snare, cymbals, bass guitar, and kick drum combine to produce a unique musical experience. With manual vibrato control and a blend of rhythmic clacks, the machine delivers a mechanical yet harmonious performance. As the music winds down, the marbles come to a stop, leaving behind an unforgettable fusion of sound and motion.

Takeaways

  • 🎶 The video showcases the Marble Machine, a music instrument created by Wintergatan that uses 2000 marbles.
  • ⚙️ The machine starts up with sounds of light switches, shutters opening, and footsteps.
  • 🎹 The vibraphone is the first instrument to play, accompanied by the sound of marbles rolling.
  • 🥁 Snare, cymbal, bass guitar, kick drum, and hi-hat progressively join the melody, creating a layered musical experience.
  • 🎼 The sound of marbles rolling and clacking forms a rhythmic backdrop throughout the performance.
  • 🔄 The machine undergoes a pause and restart, introducing a new section of the melody with bass and vibraphone.
  • 🎧 Manual vibrato control adds texture to the sound, making the music more dynamic.
  • 🥁 The kick drum, snare, and hi-hat maintain a consistent rhythm, while soft cymbal crashes punctuate the piece.
  • 🛑 As the music slows down, the instruments gradually fall silent, with the vibraphone and bass being the last to play.
  • 🌌 The performance ends with marbles coming to a stop and the lights turning off, leaving behind a sense of closure.

Q & A

  • What type of instrument is featured in this video?

    -The instrument featured is the Marble Machine, a mechanical musical instrument that uses 2000 marbles to create sound.

  • What are the first sounds heard in the video?

    -The first sounds are light switch sounds, shutters opening, and footsteps.

  • How does the machine produce sound?

    -The machine produces sound through marbles rolling and striking different parts of the machine, such as a vibraphone, snare drum, cymbals, and bass guitar.

  • What musical instruments can be identified in the video?

    -Instruments include a vibraphone, snare drum, cymbals, bass guitar, kick drum, and hihat.

  • What sound indicates the start of the machine?

    -The machine starts with marbles rolling sounds and a clack sound.

  • What happens when the machine restarts after slowing down?

    -After the restart, a bass note sounds, and then the melody slowly begins with the hihat and snare drum rejoining.

  • What marks the transition of instruments playing together in the video?

    -Cymbal crashes and clack sounds mark transitions where all instruments resume playing together.

  • What is the role of manual vibrato control in the machine?

    -Manual vibrato control is used to alter the pitch and sound of the vibraphone notes during the performance.

  • How does the video end?

    -The video ends with the music slowing down, followed by the sound of marbles stopping, wood creaking, and a light switch turning off.

  • Who provided the subtitles for this video?

    -The subtitles were provided by Wintergatan Writers.

Outlines

00:00

🎵 Introduction to Marble Machine Music

This paragraph outlines the various sounds and musical elements in the video. It begins with ambient sounds like light switches and shutters, followed by footsteps and machine sounds. The Marble Machine, created by Wintergatan, gradually begins producing music with rolling marbles, a vibraphone, and percussive elements like snare drums and cymbals. The music builds in complexity with the addition of bass guitar, kick drum, and hihat. The precision of the machine is highlighted through rhythmic clacks and vibrations, creating an intricate blend of mechanical sounds and musical instruments.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Marble Machine

The Marble Machine is a mechanical musical instrument created by Wintergatan. It uses 2000 marbles to play various instruments, producing music through physical interactions. The machine is central to the video's theme, as it demonstrates how a complex contraption can create harmonious music.

💡Vibraphone

The vibraphone is a percussion instrument with metal bars that produces a soft, melodic sound. In the video, it plays a significant role in the music, often featured prominently in conjunction with the rolling marbles, adding to the unique soundscape of the Marble Machine.

💡Clack

'Clack' refers to the mechanical sounds produced by the Marble Machine as marbles hit different parts of the device. These sounds contribute to the rhythmic background and highlight the machine’s intricate mechanics, enhancing the auditory experience of the viewer.

💡Snare Drum

The snare drum is a common percussion instrument that adds a sharp, staccato sound to the rhythm. It appears multiple times in the video, creating beats that complement the other instruments like the vibraphone and cymbals, thus contributing to the overall musical arrangement.

💡Cymbal Crash

A cymbal crash is a loud, sudden sound created by striking cymbals together. In the video, cymbal crashes punctuate key moments, adding emphasis and energy to the Marble Machine’s musical performance.

💡Bass Guitar

The bass guitar provides the low-end sound, giving depth and body to the music. As the Marble Machine plays, the bass guitar helps to balance the higher-pitched instruments like the vibraphone, ensuring the piece feels full and grounded.

💡Kick Drum

The kick drum is a low-pitched drum that produces a deep, resonant sound. In the Marble Machine, the kick drum helps maintain the rhythm and beat, providing a steady pulse throughout the performance.

💡Marble Rolling Sound

The rolling of marbles is a distinct sound throughout the video, adding to the mechanical ambiance of the performance. It symbolizes the core function of the Marble Machine, where the movement of marbles triggers the playing of instruments.

💡Manual Vibrato Control

The manual vibrato control refers to the musician’s ability to manipulate the pitch of the vibraphone by hand, adding a quivering effect to the sound. This feature shows the degree of control over the music and adds expressiveness to the otherwise mechanical performance.

💡Music Pauses

The pauses in music occur when the machine halts briefly. These moments of silence provide contrast, making the continuation of sound more impactful when the instruments resume, enhancing the overall dynamics of the performance.

Highlights

Wintergatan's Marble Machine uses 2000 marbles to create music

Light switch sounds signal the start of the performance

Machine starts up with a series of mechanical sounds

Marbles rolling initiate the musical sequence

Vibraphone plays a melodic introduction

Snare drum and cymbal crash add rhythmic elements

Bass guitar, kick drum, and hi-hat join the ensemble

Machine braking sound introduces a dynamic change

Manual vibrato control adds expressiveness to the vibraphone

Bass note sounds enrich the musical texture

Hihat starts playing, adding to the percussive layer

Snare drum resumes, maintaining the beat

Kick drum plays, contributing to the rhythm section

Vibraphone and bass play a duet, showcasing their interplay

Music pauses, creating anticipation for the next section

All instruments resume playing, building to a crescendo

Music slows down, leading to a dramatic finale

Marbles come to a stop, signaling the end of the performance

Light switch-off sounds and silence conclude the piece