Fairground Organ - "The Count of Luxemburg"

A 50-keyless Fairground Organ (rebuilt by myself) playing from traditional perforated cardboard music which pneumatically controls 210 pipes and various percussion instruments to mechanically and fully automatically play. The music performed in this video is a selection from "The Count of Luxemburg" which was an operetta composed by Franz Léhar in the early 20th century.

The instrument is still a working progress in so much as I'm presently constructing a façade and am yet to paint the refurbished display lorry, plus there are a few tweaks to the pipework once the façade is fitted. So no silly comments please about the lack of façade or tuning until (a) I've finished the project and (b) you've heard it in person! The sound quality on YouTube simply can't give full justice to the wide dynamic range of a large mechanical organ.

Interested in mechanical organs? Take a look at the iMOD Forum for photos, events, news and views:

http://www.fairgroundorgan.com/forum

This organ uses the standard 48 Gavioli scale, i.e. 22/12/8, with a couple of extra registers I've been able to fit in and add the existing old music library accordingly. The 210 pipes are spread as follows...

Melody (22 notes): 2x Stopped Flute, 2x Violin*, 1x Trumpet**, also 20-note Glockenspiel***

Accompaniment (12 notes): Stopped Flute, Open Flute, Doppelflute*, Cello*, Trumpet**

Bass (8 notes): Stopped Flute, Octave Doppelflute Helpers, 2x Stopped Flute (celeste and octave apart to imitate cello)*, Bass Trombone**

* = String Register
** = Forte Register

The registers also perform percussion note changeovers to broaden the musical range of the organ.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Fair
• Organ
• Fairground
• Street
• Barrel
• Vintage
• Old
• Drehorgel
• Draaiorgel
• Mechanical
• Music
• Brass
• Band
• Folk
• Shropshire
• Steam

[maryporte]

where is the lovely figure?

I thought she was on it all the time or are you getting a new set made?

[fairorgan]

Hi there! Don't worry, the superb bandmistress figure is safe and sound indoors - it's too cold to keep her stood up on the organ during the winter months! All the best, Nick.

[orgeldraaier1977]

Hey Nick what are the specs of this organ? Limonaire scale? Sounds very old. A sort of Bacigalupo cilinder with Bourdon and glockenspiel. Are you taking this organ to GDSF next year? I saw there is enough place to put some trays of beer....

[fairorgan]

Hi there Hiddo! Glad you think it sounds old; some of it is, and the rest is new but made to sound in of the period character, a good reason why the organ rebuild from a pile of bits has taken me three years to complete. Anyway I've added the organ specs to the video description above. Although the organ plays from the Gavioli 46/48 scale, I did have some excellent secondhand Limonaire 52 books from Fabian which I altered to fit, so it will play Dutch style music too. I'm guessing a few...

[fairorgan]

...of the masterpieces there might be your arrangements in fact -- any requests for the next video ;) ??? As for GDSF, I'm unlikely to be taking this organ there in the near future I'm afraid, but in the long run, maybe one day. I've had some fun exhibiting it over the last couple of seasons at local events, so perhaps it will soon be time to start taking her further afield once I've got the façade completed...

[fairorgan]

... There's certainly plenty of room for the beers, with in-built cupboards, sink, diesel generator (under the lorry) and of course the all-important fridge! All the very best, Nick.

[BillBeazley]

That's probably the funniest instrument I've ever heard!

[0AZ909]

I remember me when, as little girl, I went to go a ride on the "roundabout" !

I was fascinated and intrigued by the mecanich !

In this time, we were far from the electronic and cibernetic era !

How is it that time passed so fast ??

[simonw1485]

Pretty cool. Tuning is never perfect on these things but that was still good.

[nicolaj0154]

sometimes when ive seen these videos of peopols running these kind of machines, i always wanna try it myself it looks fun to do, i really wanna try this someday when im ever going to have the chance,

[BruderStarkton]

Oh my GOD what an awful noise, needs tuning and voicing and balancing. Why not have an acvcident with a can of petrol and collectr on the insurance. Sorry but in my view this sort of sound does not do our hobby any good as it so unmusical and makes the public they all sound like that. Soz Nick but thats my feelings Have a Good Christmas hehehehehe Playing with your Organ

[fenlandorgans]

kkkkknnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn­nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn­nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn­nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn­nnnm,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,­,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,­,,,

[fenlandorgans]

kkkkk

[fenlandorgans]

I should find yourself a good organ tuner before taking this out in public.

[Duanematic]

LOL

I had to laugh

[learning41230]

Very nice, and thanks for the link. Keep up the good work.