Dressed in stereotypical business attire, though wearing comically large ties, Boston Typewriter Orchestra took to the Boston Public Library\u2019s Rabb Hall stage on Oct. 16 to perform \u201cThe Revolution Will Be Typewritten.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Formed in 2004, Boston Typewriter Orchestra is a musical comedy group that challenges the typical notions of what an orchestra is. Instead of melodic string sections or shiny brass horns, the group\u2019s instrument of choice is a typewriter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With five albums and multiple singles, the orchestra uses the sharp mechanical sounds of the machine as a backdrop for tongue-in-cheek lyrics and bellowing vocals.<\/span><\/p>\n Brendan Quigley, a member of the orchestra, said the group wanted to create an innovative form of music, and a typewriter appeared to be the perfect \u201cMacGuffin,\u201d or driving force behind the band.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re being sarcastic by calling it an orchestra,\u201d Quigley said. \u201cEveryone makes sound out of a machine, and we try to build around that.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n More than 20 years later, the orchestra has performed in a variety of settings, from house parties to street festivals to libraries. It even appeared in the 2016 documentary \u201cCalifornia Typewriter,\u201d<\/span> a film featuring typewriter connoisseur Tom Hanks, among other artists, writers and collectors who still use typewriters.<\/span><\/p>\n Using ten typewriters \u2014 and every part of a fully dismembered eleventh one \u2014 the group performed a mostly original set at the Boston Public Library, with the exception of Black Sabbath\u2019s \u201cElectric Funeral,\u201d cover, which was the group\u2019s first time performing with an electric typewriter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Boston University freshman Nicola Paul, who attended the performance, said her favorite song was \u201cMailguy,\u201d an 11-second track featuring the sounds of hard typing and several members yelling.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt was really entertaining, because they were so unserious about it,\u201d Paul said. \u201cGood emotions all around.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n