I would like to support the comments made by Nicholas Simons in MMD
110320 with regard to the addition of MIDI interfaces to instruments,
where this will irrevocably destroy the originality of the instrument.
To me, to do this is just plain wrong, and I am at a loss to understand
why anyone would wish to.

Nicholas has made the point that different instruments use different
scales and that the original arrangements are specifically arranged for
those scales.  The original arrangers knew what they were doing; this
is one of the reasons why different makes of instrument have their own
distinctive sound.

Surely to alter the originality of an instrument in this way must
inevitably reduce its value.  If I were to consider buying a classic
instrument whose originality had been compromised in this way, I would
expect a hefty reduction in the price, just as I would if the casework
had been altered or severely damaged, or the pipework or other components
replaced without reference to the original work.

An exception to this would of course be any instrument which
originally had an electric interface or relay, such as is the case in
many residence or theatre organs, where a MIDI interface could be added
without in any way affecting the originality of the instrument and
would therefore constitute a reversible modification.

For me, one of the principal enjoyments inherent in the instruments
which we collect is that they enable us to hear performances of music
exactly as they would have been heard by our forefathers -- few other
things in life can give us this same tangible, magical connection with
the past.

Styles of music and also of performance have changed progressively over
the years and this is another reason why very few instruments sound
good playing music and arrangements which is not of the same period as
their manufacture.

I feel that it is the responsibility of all of we collectors to ensure
that at least some of the relatively small and ever-dwindling number of
organs, orchestrions and reproducing pianos remaining to us, are passed
on to subsequent generations in as original a condition as we can
manage.

Rowland Lee, GB