Introduction
By Andy LaTorre
Hi to all:
My name is Andy LaTorre. I've been reading the digest for the past several months. I wanted to get the feel of the digest before I introduced myself. Because of various trips (AMICA St. Louis) etc., I always seem to have a backlog of digests to read and that prevented me from communicating earlier.
I teach various industrial subjects at Western Carolina University, North Carolina. I moved here 13 years ago from Long Island. Being here in this mountainous wonderland has done wonders for my creativity.
Three years ago I suddenly realized that I could put all my life's experiences to work and build a MIDI-controlled Fairground Organ. I did. Synthetic pipes, live 25-note glock, and other percussions (snare, cymbal, triangle, block, maracas, and tambourine). I was so encouraged at the success of the organ that I improved it to the point now that I am in the business of selling them. Professional cabinetmakers, welders, machinists, pc board makers, etc. are used to build the various components. It is portable and can be transported by van. I had it at the AMICA convention band organ rally but I was up on a side street and very few members were able to appreciate its sound. (Besides my own arrangements and compositions, it also plays Wurlitzer 165 roll MIDI files.) A flyer is available if anyone is interested.
Mechanical music has always interested me. I suppose I was imprinted by the sights and sounds of an old player piano down in my cousin's damp basement 45 years ago. I suppose it was also the wonderful sound of the carousel organ at Coney Island. Anyway, it is a great hobby. My organ was at the Waynesville, NC street fair yesterday, July 4th. It makes people smile when my organ plays and that makes me happy.
I have an upright Duo-Art electric player which I no longer want. Also a 3-manual Allen, circa 1955, electronic organ. Also for sale. I want to be in MIDI. I am now right in the middle of a roll-to-MIDI output project for a friend who wants to play Wurlitzer 125 rolls directly through a synthesizer and have live percussion only. It's a roll scanner and the digest discussion of scanners was fascinating to me. For doing this project, my friend will give me a 125 roll player (with contacts, motor drive, etc.) which I will then use to scan rolls for my Fairground Organ. I am quite excited about that.
What else do I do? Pastries, Italian pastries, that is. None available here so I bake them. Cannolis, Napoleons, Baba Rum, Bakalava, Sfogiatella, etc.) I tried converting this mountain town by opening up a European Pastry shop (Italian Gelato, Italian Ices, etc.) but I only lasted 2 years. I couldn't afford to support the town for longer than that! I kept the essential cookware and now have a commercial kitchen in my home. I also bake Italian bread for my family and others which makes my friends salivate. My price per loaf: PWYM (pay what you may). I'm not a businessman.
Anymay, the Fairground Organ has opened up new areas for me. I found out that I can arrange for the organ. I suppose I absorbed something after 50 years of listening and enjoying the music. I seem to enjoy arranging more than the building of the organs.
I have MIDI files of my arrangements and of others which I would not mind sharing (some of Scott Joplin rags, Treemonisha, etc. and Jellyroll Morton) but, you know, even after building my own computer in 1976, I still can't, for the life of me, send or receive MIDI files. (Yes, I've read the previous digest explanations but - There is a saying somewhere about 'old dogs'; what is it?) The concepts are incomprehensible to me and the steps too many, along with the cryptic nomenclature which has no attachment to reality or everyday definitions of words. I'm out of that until someone can take me by the hand, in person, and show me the mechanical steps involved in transferring a MIDI file on my Mac so that it can be played by my Mastertracks 5 sequencing software.
Keep up the sharing of information. You will get back more than you give.
Andy LaTorre 111 Mistletoe Lane Sylva, NC 28779 (704) 586-6686
Orgue Mecanique POB 1479 Cullowhee, NC 28723
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(Message sent Fri 5 Jul 1996, 16:07:18 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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