Hello Fellow Automatic Music Lovers -- An unabashed plug for the MMD
and its ability to connect people of similar interest around the world.

I recently returned from a trip to Nuremberg, Germany, to attend the
Toy Fair.  Before departing I posted an inquiry on the MMD to see if
anyone had any suggestions about collections or museums in the area.
I noted that I was staying in nearby Erlangen (hotel rooms in Nuremberg
for Toy Fair are locked up for generations).

I'd hoped to get some suggestions from travelers or German folks who
had been through the area.  You can imagine my surprise when I received
an email from Ingmar Krause, who lives right in Erlangen.  He had lots
of great suggestions for museums and other sights and invited me over
to see and hear some of his family's collection.

I spend a very enjoyable evening with Ingmar, who is all of 23, and his
father, a long-time collector.  What I found most astonishing is that
Ingmar is not only an accomplished performer on the delightful 20-key
Raffin organ, but he has also arranged and punched many of his own
rolls for the organ.  These included such modern tunes as "Take Five"
and the very complex theme from the movie "The Piano," and also pop
hits like "I'm Blue" by Eiffel 57 (ask your kids or grandkids) and even
Metallica's "Master of Puppets"!

This evening of roll arrangements and spirited performance by a young
master and his proud papa were something not soon to be forgotten, all
made possible by the MMD which I believe brings out the best of the
Internet.  My thanks to Jody and Robbie for making it possible.

Regards from wet California,
Marc Sachnoff

PS: Ingmar has a nifty Ariston disc-playing tabletop reed organette for
sale, at a reasonable price, with a number of recut disks plus a few of
his own arrangements thrown in.  Interested parties can contact him at
ink@erlangen.franken.de (Ingmar Krause).