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World's First Mechanical Musical Instrument
by Meam Wye
The first mechanical musical instrument (a musical instrument in which the sound is produced automatically or mechanically without a performer) was developed in the 9th century, Baghdad by Banu Musa Brothers. It was a hydropowered organ that played interchangeable cylinders automatically. This was the first automatic reproduction of music.
The Banu Musa brothers were three famous scientists who were brothers and together played an active role in House of Wisdom, Baghdad during the 9th century. Their names along with their areas of expertise are:
- Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Musa (Astronomy, Engineering, Geometry and Physics)
- Ahmad ibn Musa (Engineering and Mechanics)
- Al-Hasan ibn Musa (Engineering and Geometry)
The banu Musa brothers authored about 20 books in the areas of astronomy, mechanics, and mathematics. One of their greatest book was 'Kitab al-Hiyal' (The Book of Ingenious Devices) that contains the design and description of 100 mechanical and automatic devices, majority of which were their original invention. The English translation of this book was done by Donald Hill in 1979.
Hydropowered organ is described in 'The Book of Ingenious Devices'. Charles B. Fowler in "The Museum of Music: A History of Mechanical Instruments", Music Educators Journal (October 1967) on this invention: "cylinder with raised pins on the surface remained the basic device to produce and reproduce music mechanically until the second half of the nineteenth century."
The Banu Musa also invented an automatic flute player which is considered as the first programmable machine.
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August 15, 2009 3:17 PM
Very interesting information. Thank you for creating this blog. I recall studying the contributions of Islamic scholars and scientists over 50 years ago, and it is nice to have this review and new information so readily available. It is a subject that has sadly been ignored for far too long. A truly great history.
George Polley
Sapporo, Japan
August 15, 2009 3:21 PM
Thanks for the appreciation. The feedback that I get here keeps me motivated :)
August 15, 2009 11:02 PM
Wow, very interesting. I have seen serveral documentaries lately. They have been very advanced in the past in that region threw out history. Especially in engineering. Things that were given credit to the Romans are now being dicovered that this region produced highly sophisticated technology first. Great post.
August 16, 2009 3:55 AM
It's good to know that you enjoyed reading. The amount of and extent of contributions of that era is indeed amazing.
August 16, 2009 9:18 PM
Very interesting information. It is good to learn about the contributions of the various cultures to world history. Thank you.
August 17, 2009 10:23 PM
You know what the most compelling thing about all of this is? None of these brothers were musicians! I think that's the real talent there. It seems that this was the start of the piano. Very interesting with how so many things today weren't originated in the United States.
August 20, 2009 7:32 PM
Thanks for the added, you have very nice blog.
August 28, 2009 12:35 AM
I was thinking the same things as Frank. It makes me feel so small compared to them and their accomplishments as well as a scene of how unlimited I can be.
August 30, 2009 10:41 PM
May: I believe that the quantity and quality of one's work are not the only defining factors for success. It is also measured in terms of our honest efforts and struggles that we have to make. Since each person has his/her own limitations so our accomplishments vary. I feel that the most successful person is the one who struggles most to achieve something good (no matter how small it may appear from scientific/literature etc. perspective). After all, each individual is extremely important for the success of any society.
August 31, 2009 9:20 PM
This is a nice and very informative blog about history, especially the one you just post here, The World's First Mechanical Musical Instrument.
Cheers,
affiliaterocks!
September 3, 2009 7:16 AM
Since I played a few instruments when I was in school, I naturally gravitated right to this entry and found it so fascinating. I had no idea that the very first instrument was so complex! Thank you for sharing. :o)
September 11, 2009 10:58 AM
Thanks a lot to all of you for taking out time to comment here and for your positive feedbacks. They really mean a lot to me! Thank you so much :)
September 16, 2009 4:52 PM
This is a great blog, and thank you very much for this post, as I never knew this bit of history. I look forward to more of your work.
September 16, 2009 6:45 PM
I'm glad to know that you find it informative. Thanks for sharing your views.
February 15, 2011 9:06 PM
Hi such a nice post i have some great thought about music want to share with you
November 27, 2011 1:54 PM
Facinating blog, im glad i bumped on it.
November 27, 2011 8:23 PM
Nice to have you here :)
December 8, 2011 11:14 AM
Today these inventions are ignored because the maximum media are controlled by the peoples who don't like Islam and Muslims
December 10, 2011 6:25 PM
What's stopping the muslims ....laziness? Many works of that period have been re-discovered due to the english translations and subsequent study and research by apparently non-muslims.