It is very interesting to compare different arrangements and to
see how different people approach both a tune and dealing with the
limitations of an organ of fixed scale and instrumentation. Tempo,
however is not one of those fixed factors.
A lot of this review had to do with differing tempos, but there is a
Tempo knob on the roll frame that allows the operator to set the tempo
at whatever speed s/he desires, just as the conductor of an orchestra
may play a piece slowly one day and off-to-the-races the next. In
comparing arrangements I would consider setting the tempo to be the
same for both.
I find that I vary tempo both from day to day and piece to piece when
playing my organ, depending on my mood at the moment. At least one
piece earns a different name based on tempo, Fucik's "Entrance of the
Gladiators" was composed with a fairly stately British march tempo
indicated, but when played at circus tempo it becomes "Thunder and
Blazes", a classic circus screamer!
Roger Wiegand
[ Sadly, the carousel operator frequently has little interest in
[ the performance of the band organ, and is afraid of breaking the
[ temperamental Wurlitzer Tempo control. -- Robbie
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