Over the past week I've been refurbishing a reproduction Tangley player
calliope in which all the rubber cloth had gone hard.  So here was a
chance to play all the A-rolls I had accumulated over the past few
years.

I found that most of the pop-tunes from the 1920s and '30s didn't carry
over very well from piano to calliope.  Pretty much the same fare that
I was used to hearing on other calliopes at band organ rallies.  There
was a march roll; it was okay.

Then I put on this composite roll of Mexican tunes (Numbre Tres 5-84)
which I purchased from Paul Gottschalk.  What a treat!  It had to be
one of the best rolls I've heard on a calliope.  The simple harmonies
and bouncy rhythms carried over very well, with a character that really
brought the instrument to life.  There were points where I could easily
imagine that I was listening to a Carl Frei street organ.  I can't
begin to say how wonderful it was!

Anyway, I thought I'd share that with y'all,

Brian Thornton - Short Mountain Music Works
207 South McCrary Street, Woodbury, TN  37190
tel.: 615-563-5814
http://www.smmwrestorations.com/