Hi everyone,  I completely agree that people under 35, for the
most part, have no appreciation of tradition, including automatic
instruments.  (Disclaimer: I am 29 years old.)

I personally am into the band and theater organ.  I recently invited
about 20 friends and all 110 of my students (I was a teaching assistant
last quarter) to a local theater organ and swing band concert, after
I had negotiated a student discount with the group that was putting
it on.  Not one single person (either grad or undergraduate) was
interested.  I found that very disturbing.

I've gotten the same response from people I've played my theater organ
CD's for.  Most look puzzled -- "Uh, what instrument is that?"  They
don't even know what an organ is.  That's tragic.  But a few like it.

Right now I would like to develop a repertoire of modern recognizable
fun music for the band organ.  No point in trying to reorchestrate
whatever crap the current teen idols are passing off as music.  Better
to stick with movie music, swing, Latin (i.e., Salsa dancing music),
etc.  These have musical value in addition to being recognizable.

Dave Goggin

 [ MMDer Tom Meijer arranged some Latin songs for a 36-key barrel
 [ organ and small ensemble, described in his article "New Dutch
 [ Street Organ CD - 'The Cuban'" in MMD 990823.  See the MMD Archives
 [ for subject keyword 'Cuban'  -- Robbie