Water Organ in Villa D' Este

It's said that the hydraulic-pneumatic technology that made this water-and-air-powered musical fountain possible in the 16th century actually dates back to 1st-century Alexandria.

Whatever its origins, the magnificently arched and pedimented Fountain was the wonder of its era, replete with statuary of Diana, Apollo and other wondrous carvings, loops and arches.

But the inevitable passage of time produced severe changes in the functionality of the water pipes; calcification destroyed the lyrical musical tones that once replicated the haunting tunes of birdsong and windsong. As lovely and imposing as the Water Organ Fountain is, it remains a mere gateway to even more lovely paths and garden structures at Villa d'Este.

So its decline into silence more than 100 years ago was deeply felt among art historians and musicologists.

But after a century-long sleep, the Water Organ Fountain sings again, thanks to craftsmen and organ specialists from Great Britain who -- without the benefit of the original pipe designs -- essentially recreated the Fountain in model form, in order to discover its musical secrets.

See more photos and videos from mt trip to Italy here: http://tinyurl.com/5j5lru

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Water Organ
• Villa D' Este
• organ

[jsixtvf]

@Ashdown47 who is composer of this music?

[janespears1962]

Bravissimo for restoring such a national treasure!

[Dogsledfan]

I was there in 1984, but the organ had not been restored at that time. The fountains were fascinating nonetheless and it was a fantastic day escaping the heat of Rome

[southernfriend]

Lovely!  Thanks for sharing this.