Mechanical music is any kind of music played automatically by a machine. Instead of a person pressing the keys or strumming the strings, the machine is programmed — with pins, punched holes, or grooves — to perform the tune

Early Experiments

• Ancient Greece: The very first known mechanical instrument was the water-powered organ, called the Hydraulis.
• Medieval times: Church towers often had clocks that could ring bells or chimes to play simple tunes without a musician.

15th–18th Century

• Barrel Organs & Carillons: Wooden barrels fitted with pins were used to make organs play melodies automatically.
• Musical Clocks & Automata: Wealthy families owned clocks that played melodies on bells or pipes, and craftsmen even built mechanical figures that could move and “play” instruments.

19th Century – The Golden Age

• Street Organs: In cities, organ grinders entertained passers-by with hand-cranked organs.
• Fairground & Dance Organs: Huge, brightly painted machines filled fairs and dance halls with lively music, often sounding like a whole band.
• Music Boxes: Small, delicate boxes with cylinders and metal combs became a favourite in homes.
• Player Pianos: These self-playing pianos used rolls of perforated paper to perform popular music right in people’s living rooms.

20th Century

• As recording technology improved, mechanical instruments were gradually replaced by gramophones, radio, and records.
• But mechanical music didn’t disappear — fairground and street organs carried on as part of popular entertainment.

Today

• Mechanical music is treasured by collectors, enthusiasts, and museums.
• Street organs are still played at festivals and fairs, especially in places like the Netherlands, Belgium, and the UK.
• Some enthusiasts even arrange modern pop songs for these old instruments, proving the tradition still has life today.​