The Hydraulis Organs History And Human Interaction

The hydraulic was invented in 300 BC by ancient Greek. We can find a number of stories about water organs in famous books such as Ctesibius (300 BC), Philo of Byzantium (300 BC), and Hero of Alexandria (62 AD).The remains of a hydraulis were discovered in 1931 with a writing date of 228 AD in Hungary.It was a mechanical instrument in which wind and air pressure combination produced sound.  The Hydraulis organs were being used in churches, but these organs also used in banquets, circuses and games. This organ was also considered as the most complex machine. The hydraulis is a pipe organ and it converts the dynamic water energy of water into air pressure in order to drive the organ using pipes. Its name also referred as (water pipe) hydraulis because water (driven) pipe (instrument). This organ was invented in 3^rd Century BC by a Hellenistic scientist and engineer Ctesibius of Alexandria. The hydraulis is considered as the first keyboard instrument as we found its modern shape in churches. Keyboard and piano sheet music for hymns are still available for a great collection of work. This organ was operated by hand, not by the automatic water flow. Its keys were much balanced and could be operated with a soft touch.

The hydraulis got popular among Romans after the Greeks and then Byzantines adopted it. The Arab and Byzantine inventors further improved this organ. The first automatic hydraulic organ introduced in 900 AD byBnu Musa. A long distance hydraulic organ was also developed at the palace of Khalif Al Muqtadir (ruled 908-932). This automatic hydraulic organ could be heard from 60 miles away (written in the Arabic book Sir-Al-Asrar, Roger Bacon translated it into Latin in 13^th Century). The automatic hydraulic organ adopted by Italy and Western Europe at the end of 13^th Century.The most popular hydraulic organ was in Tivoli at the Villa d’Este in 16^th century and it was six meter high, and it was made by LuchaClericho in between 1569-1572, but it was finalized by Claude Venard. Luca Biagi also made a hydraulic automatic organ in 1598. Point to be noted that only Palazzo de Quirinale survived made in 1650.

The largest hydraulic organ was made with a number of pipes and it was placed in Atlantic city, New Jersey at Boardwalk Hall Auditorium.  It is expected that it was made in 1929-1932 having 33,115 pipes and its weight was estimated at 150 tons. But now this organ is not functioning. In the beginning of 17^th century, a number of hydraulic organs were made in England. In 1651, Cornelius Drebbel made one organ for King James. Salmon de Caus also made a number of organs at Richmond. Salmon de Caus made a beautiful organ in the Heidelberg Castle garden after the marriage of Princess Elizabeth with Prince Friedrich V. this organ got popularity for its beautiful outlook and complicated waterworks. The interest in water organs were decreased at the end of 17^th century because of their high cost. Latest organs are accompanying the capability to play a number of different timbers. A number of organs have been used at basketball, ice hockey and baseball games in Canada and the United States and these organs were used during play interval in 1941.