It's sort of like a pianola on steroids. Or a cross between a pianola and a one-man band. But why does the operator wear ear muffs?
I wonder how long it takes to set it up to play a different tune?
If you are interested in self-playing instruments but very much in the ambient domain, the David Toop and Max Eastly album 'New and Rediscovered Musical Instruments' is perhaps worth a listen. The instruments are more like wind chimes on steroids and have names like 'hydrophone' and 'elastic aerophone' - no melodies here.
https://vimeo.com/158749685
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_an...al_Instruments