“Het Kleine Juweel” (The Little Gem)

Ian Crisp presents “Het Kleine Juweel” (The Little Gem) Volume 6 is now available and is probably the last CD to be commissioned by Ian who has spent the last 2 years obtaining high quality music for his exceptionally tuneful organ. The CD along with the earlier 5 volumes can be purchased by post for £8-75 from Ian at The Cottage, Green End, Weston, Hitchin Herts SG4 7AL Tel 01462 790333.


The 56 key Dutch Street organ was built in 2001 by Albert Pluer of Bussum near Amsterdam and is operated by the Casio digital system using the Limonaire Music Scale. The recording by Ken Slow is very accurate and the excellent performance of The Little Gem is most pleasing. Ian has chosen music that he likes rather than just what is easily available. Looking at the track listings you will be able to see Ian’s tastes in Easy Listening. If you were born in the 1940’s or 50’s you will feel very much at home with the selection of music which may well bring back memories of your youth.

Playing the CD in my car which I think has a good sound system with 6 speakers I found the CD to be very pleasing with a great depth of expression that gives the impression of a much larger organ. The 26 tracks are mainly 2 or 3 minutes in length and provide an ideal background to a car journey or indeed enjoyed at home.

What must be remembered is that a good organ needs good arrangements of music to show its full potential and you will find that the accompaniment and counter melodies heard on the CD are most imaginative and pleasing to the ear. I can recall reading rally programmes from the 1970’s mentioning that Mr X cuts his own music and quite often you could tell this by the very basic tune that somehow emerged from the instrument. The arrangers for this CD are Tom Meijer, Jan Kees de Ruijter, Gerard Razenberg, Carl Frei and Weima all of whom are to be applauded for their work.

1 Children of the Regiment March
2 Martha, Rambling Rose of my Childhood
3 Penny Serenade
4 The Girls from Cologne can kiss very well
5 No Matter What, Boyzone
6 Night Flute Serenade
7 Quicksilver March
8 Jesus Christ Superstar / I don’t know how to love Him
9 Mother, How Are You Today?
10 That’s Amore
11 Alice, Where Art Thou?
12 Kramer March
13 Sere Nana
14 Telstar
15 Toe Rosen (Waltz from the Poet & Peasant)
16 Women in Love
17 This is My Song
18 Pretty Woman
19 Ais Ik Naar Je Blinde Kijk (Blind Eyes)
20 Can’t Take My Eyes Off You
21 The 12th Regiment March
22 The Finken Waltz
23 Granada
24 O Mein Papa
25 Banditesteiche (Jolly Robbers Overture by Franz Von Suppe)
26 O Holy Night