The Westside Story - played by an antique Dutch Music Machine / Streetorgan

This original Dutch street organ — a fully mechanical music machine driven by perforated cardboard books — performs a selection of iconic melodies from the legendary Broadway musical West Side Story. Premiering in 1957, West Side Story redefined the modern musical with its groundbreaking score by Leonard Bernstein, compelling choreography by Jerome Robbins, and its timeless retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in the streets of New York. Songs such as “Maria,” “Tonight,” and “America” have since become classics worldwide. Bringing this repertoire to a Dutch street organ connects two musical traditions in a unique way. The "draaiorgel" (in Dutch) , developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, evolved from earlier barrel-organ designs and became a familiar sound in Dutch cities. With its rich ranks of pipes, percussion and operation trough a large cardboard book with thousands of little holes in it, the Street Organ grew into an essential part of the Netherlands’ cultural identity and public musical heritage. Today, these instruments continue to bridge cultures and generations — from Broadway to the streets of Holland. #musicmachine #streetorgan #westsidestory #broadway #mechanicalmusic #dutchheritage #draaiorgel #hiddovanos https://www.draaiorgel.nl