Re: Street Organs
By Angelo Rulli
Further to the discussion on street organs, I submit the following:
Band organs, American term, defines large roll-operated organs generally associated with carousels, skating rinks, etc. Sometimes referred to as Military Band Organs because they simulate a marching band.
Fair (Fairground) organs, European term, generally defines the large organs that Americans call band organs. European organs usually operate with cardboard book music.
Peirement, Dutch term, generally applied to large organs played on the streets of Holland.
Street organ. Generally a term referring to any organ played on the street. The term usually applies more to the larger organs, but not exclusively.
Cart organ. Generally refers to smaller hand-cranked organs.
Monkey organ. Refers to smaller hand-cranked organs. So-called because organ grinders sometimes used monkeys to collect money and the organ took on this misnomer.
Dreiorgel, German term. Refers to smaller hand-cranked organs.
A comment on modern-day makers: Organs of all sizes are being made in England today. Alan Pell is perhaps the largest of the makers and he offers organs in sizes from 20 to 65 keys. The Ludion organ makers in Toulouse, France, are fluent in the English language and dispell the notion that French organ makers do not share a common language with others.
I am certain there are at least 25 makers of ne organs in Europe, most of whom do not advertise because they are custom makers and work on consignment only. When I was at the orgelfest in Lichtenstieg, Switzerland, in 1993 I saw five organs that I had never heard of, including two new barrel organs. This proved to me that there are many makers who are generally unknown outside of their locale.
I hope that others in this worldwide family of organ enthusiasts will contribute to our knowledge (or lack thereof) regarding this most joyous aspect of mechanical music.
I am reminded how surprised I was to learn that Norway used to have no fewer than four makers of barrel organs a century ago. That went along way to dispelling the stereotype of the Italian barrel organ maker.
Let's hear more about (and from) street organs, small and large, old and new.
Angelo Rulli
The Mechanical Maestro
St. Paul, Minnesota |
(Message sent Tue 12 Nov 1996, 14:18:48 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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