The Blödes ('Stupid”) Orchester Debut

[excerpted from Musical America]

It took him eight years, but German composer and conductor Michael Petermann has put together an orchestra comprised of over 200 household appliances made between 1912 and 1975. Hair dryers, a washing machine, electric carving knives, mixers, Braun razors, a telephone, electric fans – they’re all included in the Blödes (translated as “Stupid”) Orchester, on display at Hamburg’s Museum Für Kunst Und Gewerbe. Petermann composed a 30-minute piece for it, transmitted via a midi interface.  Watch an excerpt on YouTube