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MMD > Archives > November 2006 > 2006.11.11 > 02Prev  Next


Mystery Organ at Palace Amusements
By Andrew Barrett

Dear MMD group and Dr. Bill Black,  Thank you very much for the
information.  Without your knowledge and this great group I may never
have learned what I just did. I am glad to learn that I was curious
about a nice-sounding organ and not a bad one.

It is interesting to me to learn that there are classical Wurlitzer 150
rolls, as I always thought that scale was one of the least suitable for
playing classical music, with only 3 bass and 3 trombone notes, lots of
missing accidentals, etc.  No offense to those who have a soft spot for
this particular scale.  (I understand that it was based on a barrel
organ scale, and they kept it as a paper roll scale so they could make
money factory-converting previously-made barrel organs, etc. etc.)

I then shouldn't have been too surprised when I learned that the
imposing "Franz Josef" "orchestrion" at the House on the Rock in
Wisconsin was originally set up to play these rolls!  When I heard it
live (and can still hear it on a CD I purchased at the attraction),
it was playing "Offenbach's Can-Can medley", with only a few missing
or changed notes in the arrangement; I could tell that there were some
missing notes in the scale, but when I was listening to it in person,
I had quite forgotten that it was playing the 150 scale.  (Or is it
still?  Even if MIDI-fied, does it still have the same note scale?)

I suppose my mostly well-meaning ramblings could lead to a discussion
of arranging classical music for limited musical scales, but I'm sure
that has been covered many times over already in the MMD.

I almost hate to end on a rhyme, but for those still in doubt about the
maker of the band organ originally mentioned, (which is/was recently
for sale), well, I guess I won't know until I plunk down the dough!

Until I can afford an organ, I shall then continue to content myself
with my rather bizarre attempts at arranging ragtime for band organ,
and will be sure to let everyone know when I have created something
listenable and actually accomplished something on this group.  Anyway,
thanks again.

Best regards,
Andrew Barrett


(Message sent Sat 11 Nov 2006, 08:16:46 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Amusements, Mystery, Organ, Palace

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