The Mellotron: A Keyboard with the Power of an Orchestra (1965) | British Pathé

British T.V. personalities, Eric Robinson and David Nixon, introduce us to an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard otherwise known as the ’Mellotron.’ For Archive Licensing Enquiries Visit: Explore Our Online Channel For FULL Documentaries, Fascinating Interviews & Classic Movies: #BritishPathé #History #Instruments License This Film: (FILM ID:) Subscribe to the British Pathé YT Channel: The personalities Eric Robinson and David Nixon introduce us to the musical instrument the Mellotron, London. Various shots of large country garden. L/S of swimming pool. L/S of garden with white doves on the grass. M/S of large country cottage. The narrator introduces us to the personality Eric Robinson who explains to us from his living room armchair the new instrument we are about to see which can make all the sounds of an orchestra, but can be played by one person - The Mellotron. The camera pans as Eric walks to introduce us to his son-in-law the magician David Nixon. M/S of David Nixon seated at the Mellotron that looks very much like a piano or organ. Eric and David talk about the complexities of the machine. Then David gives a demonstration and lets rip with two fingers only to produce an awesome sound!. C/U of Nixon’s hands as he twists a few knobs to add a trombone sound, and starts to play again. M/S of Eric asking David what other rhythms the machine can play. David replies by launching into a French accordion with a Viennese waltz. C/U from inside the machinery of the Mellotron. We see the various components at work as David plays. Finally, Eric introduces us to Geoff Unwin an expert pianist to show what the machine can really do. M/S of Geoff playing great piece of music, the Mellotron produces a variety of amazing sixties musical sounds. M/S of Geoff finishing the piece. He turns to the camera and smiles. Note: this is one of the best! A rare Colour Pic almost completely in natural sound, and what funky natural sound it is! - SL. BRITISH PATHÉ’S STORY Before television, people came to movie theatres to watch the news. British Pathé was at the forefront of cinematic journalism, blending information with entertainment to popular effect. Over the course of a century, it documented everything from major armed conflicts and seismic political crises to the curious hobbies and eccentric lives of ordinary people. If it happened, British Pathé filmed it. Now considered to be the finest newsreel archive in the world, British Pathé is a treasure trove of 85,000 films unrivalled in their historical and cultural significance. British Pathé also represents the Reuters historical collection, which includes more than 136,000 items from the news agencies Gaumont Graphic (1910-1932), Empire News Bulletin (1926-1930), British Paramount (1931-1957), and Gaumont British (1934-1959), as well as Visnews content from 1957 to the end of 1984. All footage can be viewed on the British Pathé website.