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<\/a>A musical hydraulic boat with with performing automata musicians by Al-Jazari<\/p><\/div>The Houston Symphony<\/a> has commissioned a new work for orchestra, Al-Jazari’s Ingenious Clocks<\/i> to feature in their 2024-2025 season. Conducted by Juraj Val\u010duha, the fairy-tale inspired program<\/a> on March 14, 15 and 16th 2025 will also include works by Korngold (Violin Concerto<\/i>) and Prokofiev (Cinderella<\/i>).<\/p>\n Al-Jazari’s Ingenious Clocks<\/i> is inspired by the fantastical inventions of 12th century Islamic polymath Ismail al-Jazari: scholar, inventor, en\u00adgi\u00adneer, artist and mathematician. His remarkable treatise, \u201cThe Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices<\/a>,\u201d describes fifty machines he engineered to perform various tasks. Coupled with his own colorful illustrations, the fountain, a band of mechanical musicians, a hydraulic \u201cperpetual flute,\u201d a self-cleaning washbasin, and a mechanized\u201cbutler\u201d who prepares drinks. book<\/a> evokes a fairy-tale world of automated devices: a dancing water But perhaps his most beautiful and captivating designs are his many mechanical clocks<\/a>. These include elaborate candle clocks (triggered by dripping wax), an astronomical \u201ccastle clock,\u201d a programmable clock of mechanical drummers (who beat out the hours!), a portable \u201cscribe clock\u201d and a giant \u201celephant clock<\/a>\u201d (at right).<\/p>\n Al-Jazari\u2019s Ingenious Clocks<\/i> is an evocative time piece, a musical journey to a vivid world of invention and imagination. It captures the vision and whimsy of these enchanting time machines, built with a prescience that anticipates our automated modern world.<\/p>\n<\/a> Known as the \u201cfather of robotics\u201d for his revolutionary work in engineering and automation, al-Jazari\u2019s devices are fascinating both functionally and aesthetically.<\/p>\n