In Digest 96.11.09 Robbie Rhodes wrote:

> Jan,  can you tell us more about the differences between the English
> Fairground Organ, the Draaiorgel of Holland, the Drehorgel of Germany,
> and the Military Band Organ such as Wurlitzer sold in America?

I'm not Jan, but may I explain as well?  :)

The difference between the English Fairground Organ and the Draaiorgel
of Holland is the name  :), for many organs played in England come from
Holland.  I can't tell what specifies the English Fairground Organs;
perhaps some of our English friends can tell us.

The Dutch Draaiorgels mostly are very sweet in sound, especially with
their "Bourdon"-Register.  Also they mostly have a wood block and a
registerable Tremolo.  Well, the whole percussion is (mostly) divided:
Bass-Drum (/Triangle), Cymbal, Snare-Drum (2 sticks)/ Wood block
(2 sticks), "Belden" (figures playing little bells). They are run by
cardboard-books.

The "Drehorgel" is misplaced in this list -- better would be to ask:
What is the difference to the German Jahrmarktsorgel.

The German Jahrmarktsorgeln are the organs typically built at Waldkirch/
Black Forest: Gebr.Bruder, Ruth & Sohn -- they are ...hmm... _loud_ :) --
for they had to attract people to the different show-booths, merry-go-
rounds, ect.  Percussion: Bass-Drum with Cymbal, Snare-Drum (2 Sticks);
bells played by figures aren't to be found in these too often, but many
have a Xylophone-Register. They are run by either cardboard-books or
paper-rolls.  In the beginning they built smaller organs with pin-
barrel-steering. [cylinder control]

> What is the draaiorgel tradition of the Netherlands?  How does this
> tradition relate to the organbuilders of Belgium and the Black Forest
> of Germany?  (I am thinking especially about the master, Carl Frei.)

Buy Carl Frei's Biographie :)
What do you want?  Should I wrote a doctoral thesis for you?!? :)

> Best regards,
> Robbie Rhodes

                              greetings by(e) InK [Ingmar Krause]

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