Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > August 1999 > 1999.08.23 > 02Prev  Next


New Dutch Street Organ CD - "The Cuban"
By Robbie Rhodes

[ The text below is taken from Channel Classics' web pages:
 [   http://www.channelclassics.com/newrel/nrCCS%2015098.html
 [   http://www.channelclassics.com/diversen/distrib.htm

'The Cuban' - Musical Adventures with a Street Organ

Inspired by the traditions of the Cuban barrel organ, Jaap de
Kwaasteniet, after acquiring a 36-key barrel organ, founded the
trio Dansorgel de Cubaan (organ grinder and percussion) in 1991.

Cuban barrel organs, which originated in Europe, were originally fitted
out to play waltzes and polkas. This was soon combined with the more
Cuban tradition by adding percussionists. The result was a relatively
inexpensive orchestra, which nevertheless sounded "full" enough to be
acceptable.

The European musical repertoire was ultimately replaced completely
by the most up-to-date musical numbers of the island itself it was re-
ferred to as "organo oriental", i.e. the organ from the east, because
European barrel organs first made their appearance on the east coast
of the island, where they had been imported from Haiti.

The barrel organ was probably introduced by the French to Haiti, which
remained a French possession until 1804.  Just like the Cubans, who
experimented with the production of barrel organ rolls with Cuban
music, "Dansorgel de Cubaan" had to build up its own repertoire.

In the Netherlands, the familiar barrel organ repertoire did not extend
much beyond popular tunes like "Tulips from Amsterdam".  Years of ex-
perience as a percussionist, combined with his extensive collection of
authentic Caribbean music provided Jaap de Kwaasteniet with a readily
available source of inspiration. With the help of Tom Meijer and Jan
Kees de Ruiter, both of whom were experienced barrel organ arrangers,
he started his experiments.

Please note: If you hear strange sounds at the end of some tracks this
is the remaining air escaping from the wind chamber of the organ !

Jaap de Kwaasteniet: THE CUBAN ,  Channel Classics CCS 15098

USA distributors:

Harmonia Mundi USA
2037 Granville Ave.
Los Angeles California 90025
tel: 1 310 478 1311
fax: 1 310 998 1366
email: msklansky@harmoniamundi.com

Channel Classics America
P.O. Box 5642
Englewood
07631 New Jersey
tel: 1 201 568 1544
fax: 1 201 568 6146


(Message sent Tue 24 Aug 1999, 03:05:00 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  CD, Cuban, Dutch, New, Organ, Street

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page