The Smithsonian has reissued the old Folkways LP record, "Music of
the Carousel," on CD (available through Amazon). The individual
tracks are also posted on YouTube.
The original liner notes (mostly irrelevant and woefully out of date)
are included on the CD as a pdf file. The organ is apparently a Ruth,
but it is definitely playing Wurlitzer 150 roll music.
Strangely enough, when the recording was made they apparently did not
know the titles of all the tunes, as five of the tracks are simply
labelled "Instrumental #1," "Instrumental #2," etc. Three of these
tracks are easily identifiable: #1 is "Robinson's Grand Entry" March
(Karl King); #2 is "Barnum & Bailey's Favorite" March (Karl King),
and #5 is "Royal Trumpeters" March (Frank Seltzer, here played way
too fast -- so fast, the pipes can't always speak).
I have not been able to identify the other two instrumental numbers.
Links follow to the two "mystery" recordings. Is anyone able to
identify them?
Instrumental #3:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpyenmFuKjc&list=RD4Uk2YinSUlc&index=2
Instrumental #4:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGowCW0kwKo&list=RD4Uk2YinSUlc&index=5
A few other comments: It seems to me that some of the tunes on the
recording are edited down. Some are quite short. "Our Director" is
completely missing the B section! Also, there is one prominent pipe
that is a bit out of tune, and it shrieks every time it's played.
A few tracks are played too fast. Nevertheless this is an enjoyable
album, with some unusual music.
David C. Kelzenberg
Iowa City, Iowa
[ The original vinyl LP was released in 1961. More information at
[ https://folkways.si.edu/music-of-the-carousel/sounds/album/smithsonian
[ -- Robbie
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