The Palm Court Orchestrion

The Palm Court Orchestrion 105 note David Leach Electro-mechanical Dance/Concert Organ Volumes 1 & 2 have just been released and can be obtained from the owner Michael Harris, 93 High Street, Treorchy, Rhondda, CF42 6PD At rallies the CD’s cost £5 each or £9 for both volumes. By post £6-50 each or £11 for the pair.

You may well have seen Welte or Imhof & Mukle Orchestrions on visits to museums or stately homes – these were the indoor version of the fair organ normally playing Classical Romantic music and played from a very large pinned barrel or paper roll that was often driven by a very large weight that had to be wound up to gain height. This Orchestrion is a modern day counterpart of these grand old instruments. Unlike its predecessors this instrument is mounted in a van and can be enjoyed at many outdoor locations.

The Palm Court Orchestrion consists of 100 pipes (50 Violin and 50 Bourdon), Bass Drum, Snare Drum, Temple Blocks, Wood Block, Cymbal, Saxophone and Accordion. You will also hear the sounds of a Clarinet, xylophone, piccolo and electric organ.

The instrument sounds rather similar to the DeCap Cafe Organs that featured a Hammond tone wheel generating system along with accordion and percussion; this is particularly apparent in “Tango Decap”. It is obviously designed to entertain a wide audience and the live accordion and percussion are bound to attract youngsters. The characteristics of the instrument are lively, jolly and well performed with the added novelty element.

These volumes recorded by M.D.Fisher will make a welcome addition to your CD collection – being just a little different from the normal Fair or Dance Organ. The Palm Court Orchestrion has great expression and can play gentle sections in “Gluhwumchen (Glow-worm) Idylle” so delicately or race along with “Zampa Overture” – a piece more familiar on the Theatre Organ that has very peaceful almost celestial moments then builds into tempestuous flurry of activity from the varied sections of the Orchestrion. In my opinion the track most suited to the instrument is the “Paris By Night Medley” that begins with the well known “Maigret” theme when the accordion really comes into its own; the “Gigi” section of the medley is also most exquisite.

Volume One
1 Ay-Ay Twist
2 Anvil Polka
3 Prelude to Carmen
4 Foxtrot Medley No.1
5 Musette Waltzes
6 Paris By Night Medley
7 Pennsylvania Polka
8 12th Regiment March
9 Cornelita Tango
10 Flemish Serenade
11 Music to Watch Girls By
12 One Step Medley
13 Rag Mop
14 Teddy Bears Picnic
15 Zampa Overture
16 Swinging Safari
17 Foxtrot Medley No. 2
18 Mr Sandman
19 Cocktails for Two

Volume Two
1 Boogie Twist
2 Bungalow Foxtrot
3 Fleiss March
4 JoJo Waltz
5 Judas Rumba
6 Glenn Miller Medley
7 Gluhwurmchen Idylle
8. Old Time Hits
9 Limbo Rock
10 Locarno March
11 Violin in the Night
12 12th Street Rag
13 Sancta Maria Waltz
14 Tango DeCap
15 Spanish Madelon
16 Sensation
17 Zorba’s Dance
18 Pandora
19 Berliner Luft March
20 China Boogie