Jim Riggs at the Wurlitzer "I Want To Be Happy" Duet

This Phantom Duet is the Piano Roll/Wurlitzer pairing that started it all.

Several years ago, at the Little River Studio in Wichita, the Steinway PianoDisc was playing a selection of Ampico recordings during supper. When "I Want To Be Happy" happened to come on I was delighted as it has always been one of my very favorite Ampico arrangements. I turned to my host and asked, "Do you mind if I turn the organ on and try playing to it?"

Well, After 4 or 5 run-throughs we pretty much ended up with what you hear on this video. We looked at each other and knew we'd stumbled upon something very special: a combination of talents and instruments that linked across 80 years and results in some of the most joyful music ever to involve the theatre pipe organ. The Ampico and the Wurlitzer were simply made for each other and have become, at least for me, the perfect combination.

I have never played music that is happier, more orchestral or just plain fun than these Phantom Duets. When playing them I think of those fabulous pianists who recorded these reproducing roll performances so many years ago. I'm sure they would have approved (and quite possibly wondered why they didn't do it themselves way back when).

I hope you enjoy these Phantom Duets as much as I've enjoyed making them!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Riggs
• Wurlitzer
• Theatre
• Pipe
• Organ
• I
• Want
• To
• Be
• Happy
• Phantom
• Duet
• Ampico
• player
• piano
• roll
• nostalgia

[CharmedQuarkZ99]

Sounds great.....I restored antique music machines...unusual to see a Steinway with an Ampico...the Duo Art is great...but nasty to work on....Ampico is my favorite too....used to buy supplies from Wichita...Player Piano Co. I think....fella named Armstrong......thanks for posting

[WillardPugh]

I'm sorry to say Durrell (Armstrong) passed away a few months ago. There was a huge auction at Player Piano Co. a while back---everything had been broken down to unrecognizable parts---a real dog's breakfast of random mechanisms. Another Wichita institution bites the western dust...

[steamrocks]

Wonderful method of production showing piano + organ! One minor criticism, more like a teechnical question: At chorus at 1:00, you use glock stabs. Wouldn't it have been a whole lot easier to use Solo to Acc 2nd touch rather than flying up 3 manuals to grab the glock? Perhaps that stop is non-existent (not likely) or not working (can ALWAYS happen) I'm a tech nut, So I always ask stuff like that. If you want one on my Videos, ask why I use crosshand fingering on my version of 'Roundabout' .

[WillardPugh]

I've got the Tuba/Diap/Tibia registered in the ACC 2nd touch (to use for counter-melodies and accents) and don't much care for changing ACC pistons back and forth just to get the Glock in. Plus, the Solo Octave coupler is on as well. So, it's actually simpler to zip up to the SOLO for the bells. (Looks more impressive, too!)

[danielmkubacki]

Cool Video!

[ThePilot314]

Life could be sooooooooo wonderful .............. but

Thanks a lot for the lovely time!

[RockHistoryTube]

I love this amazing instrument.

*****

[pcma1970]

Wonderful

[mrbigarms]

Heart warming and feel good factor music,

I enjoyed that very much, thank you.

Makes me want to hear this kind of music live!

[composeamadeus]

Amazing !!!

[laustibi4]

Amazing !!!

[FourFootFagott]

Definitely a sphincter tickler! MORE, MORE, MORE Please

[CharmedQuarkZ99]

Sorry to hear that.....Durrel provided a lot of good supplies.........bet some folks got a few of his 10 tune nickelodeon frames...stopped once and chatted with him......sad news..