Mortier "Taj Mahal" organ playing The Syncopated Clock

The company Mortier was centred in Antwerp, Belgium building organs from the turn of the twentieth century to shortly after 1950. They were regarded as the finest machines to be used in dance halls and travelling shows. The carving work on the facade, the pipes and the effects were master-crafted.

Of their production, the 101 key is regarded as being the ultimate instrument and of these, two were made with extremely ornate facades and extra musical embellishments. The only one remaining is the magnificent Taj Mahal.

This organ was delivered new in 1924 to St Jeans Palace, a dance hall in Antwerp, Belgium. It was an amazing success and of course being in Mortier's home town it was their icon.

The facade is approximately 8.5 metres long by 8 metres high and symbolises good luck (Chinese dragons), prosperity (Grecian urns of plenty), music (Saint Cecilia - the Patron Saint of music) and love (Aphrodites statue). The facade was carved in Italy over a two year period and decorated with three forms of gold leaf.

Over 1000 light globes adorn the facade and these are activated in spectacular patterns by the cardboard music.

The machine has over 1000 pipes, snare drum, bass drum, woodblocks, triangle, castanets, xylophone and other unique instrumentation including a large gong originally used to signify the change of dance partners. It is spectacular to see and hear the Taj playing modern or traditional music.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• organ
• mortier

[koasterkav]

I have heard and read so much about it. Was it in California at one time? Where is it now? I have heard Australia. True?

[louswire]

What a great sound this thing has...

[amellov65]

very nice organ,please upload more,thanks for the upload.amellov65

[SwingBandHeaven]

What a marvelous machines! Outstanding!

[iwssm24]

just to let you know i got the Cd, thanks for your help with the link. The CD was not quite what i was expecting, came in a paper sleeve and everything was played painfully slow but still just about worth it.

[trainguy111]

its called band organ music. It also sells CDs of Band organs from the Paul Eakens collection.

[iwssm24]

Any chance of the link please?

[trainguy111]

A website that sells CDs of the organ.

[iwssm24]

where did you get it??

[StuartMulcrow]

Quite possibly the most magnificent looking Mortier ever built.

Love those register lighting changes too.