FAIR ORGAN REVIEWS: De Gertruida Volume 2

Tuesday, 8 March 2011

De Gertruida Volume 2

James Reid has been busy producing a number of very interesting recordings. All of the CD’s that follow can be purchased from James or at the organs at shows. You may well find these CD’s advertised on the internet at considerably higher prices.

They are all available to buy from James Reid Mechanical Music priced at £8 each to which should be added UK postage at £1-50 and a further 50p postage for each extra CD you may wish to purchase. He can accept money by cheque or paypal.

Cheques should be made payable to James Reid. If in doubt contact James at Willow Garth, Thorne Road, Hatfield, Doncaster, DN7 6EN. Tel: 0775 228 8703 Email: 01405@tiscali.co.uk and web site www.organbooks.co.uk

“De Gertruida Street Organ Favourites Volume 2”.

A very enjoyable mellow instrument built in Holland by Simon Loopstra and imported into the UK two years ago by the present owner, Mr Stewart Graves. De Gertruida is a 52 key instrument which uses the Limonaire / Bursens scale.

If you enjoy lots of continental music with a few English pieces to add variety you will appreciate this recording. Again this CD is well produced by James.

Order your CD from James (details given earlier).

1. Blaze Away
2. The Entertainer
3. Zeeman Liederen Potpourri
4. Samba Medley
5. St Nicolas Waltz
6. Waltz Potpourri
7. Op De Rode Rosen Vallen Tranen
8. Olimpia March
9. Old Time Hits
10. Oh Marie
11. Oh Amsterdam
12. Never On A Sunday
13. Morgen Blatter
14. The Macarena
15. Kinder Liedjes Potpourri
16. Invercargil March
17. Het Leidse Leid
18. Foot Tapper
19. Daar Bij De Molen
20. Amparita Roca March
21. Andre Duin
22. Bring Me Sunshine

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Victory & Locomotion

While there are not many organ owners producing new CD’s at present it is pleasing to note that one organ owning family has CD’s available that run in to double figures.

The Kelders family take their recently built 21^st century 118key Verbeeck ‘Victory’ and 73key Verbeeck ‘Locomotion’ all over Europe to entertain 1000’s of people every year. As I write they have so far released 15 volumes plus special compilations of music from ‘Victory’, not to mention CD’s of ‘Locomotion’ and some other continental organs which include Bruder, Mortier, Ruth and DeCap.

The music tracks available range from 1960’s pop tunes to rock music to serious classical pieces – all played to perfection. At the 2009 Great Dorset Steam Fair I looked through all of the various volumes and was amazed at the diversity of the pieces available – a very different type of selections to the LP’s of the 1970’s when most music seemed to be marches or waltzes.

Full details of the recordings available can be found on their website

rba-rentals.com and you will be able to see a vast array of CD’s and information plus video clips of the organs.

If you don’t have any of these CD’s yet why not just order any one of the normal volumes. Or you can choose Rock, Classical, Wartime, Marches, Christmas, Musicals or 60’s compilations – but be aware that the compilations may use tracks already released in the normal volumes

The full range of ‘Victory’ CD’s is priced at £10.00 each and all other recordings are priced at just £8.00 each. Postage cost for all UK orders is only £1.00 for up to 2 CD’s and £2.00 for 3 or more CD’s. The CD’s can be purchased at the organ or by post with cheques made payable to Mrs K.Johnson of 18 Stanton Close, Desborough, Northants, NN14 2RX. Tel 01536 761372 email: rbaukinfo@yahoo.com

97 key Mortier Organ “Four Columns" & "Quartet"

May 2008

St Albans Organ Theatre houses the Charles Hart Collection and they have recently produced 2 excellent CD’s of instruments in their care. Please note that the CD’s have different prices and are available from SAMMS, PO Box 59, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL2 2BF with a cheque made payable to “SAMMS”. Please remember to add your address and phone number. Details of past and present recordings can be seen on the Theatre website in the discography page.

97 key Mortier Organ “Four Columns” Volume 2 is the first digital recording of this fine instrument and costs £8 at the Organ Theatre or £10 by post in the U.K. I can recall purchasing a Long Playing record of this organ in 1969 – at that time I believe it was available in High Street shops and was a welcome acquisition; I am sure many other members may still have this disc.

The CD lasts for the maximum possible time of 74 minutes and 26 seconds – very good value! Some of the 16 tracks have appeared on a previous cassette, but there are now additional tracks with music from seven different arrangers namely: Jan Kees de Ruijter, Peter Craig, Eugene Peersman, Tom Meijer, Stephen Cockayne, Ken Slow and Keith Pinner.

Being a large Mortier Dance Organ there are bound to be a few special effects and the arrangers of the music have obviously gone out of their way to ensure that the whole spectrum of sounds from this instrument are heard particularly in the Under the Sea in the “Disney Medley” and “Orchestral Suite No.2 in B Minor” by J.S. Bach where a very good impression of a church pipe organ is heard. “The Masquerade Waltz” by Khactachurian is a very full bodied piece that leaves a lasting impression in my mind. “Choo Choo Samba” is a fine tune full of percussion as is “Caravan” which both contain considerable helpings of the bass drum, snare drum, castanet, cymbal, triangle and wood blocks.

The digital recording was made by Ken Slow and is a commendable piece of work capturing the true Mortier sound.

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Kiss Me Kate Selection:-

Another Opening, Another Show
So In Love
Wunderbar
We Open In Venice

Thunderbirds March
Lloyd Webber Medley:-

Jesus Christ Superstar
I Don't Know How To Love Him
Memory
The Phantom of the Opera
Mister Mistoffelees
Don't Cry For Me Argentina

Choo Choo Samba
Gold and Silver Waltz
Knightsbridge March
Disney Medley:-

When You Wish Upon A Star
Under the Sea
Baroque Hoedown
The Unbirthday Song
Heigh Ho
Whistle While You Work
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?
Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah
It's a Small World

Overture - The Force of Destiny
Oliver Medley:-

Food, Glorious Food
Where is Love?
It's a Fine Life
Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two
Oom-Pah-Pah
Who Will Buy?
As Long as He Needs Me
Consider Yourself

Caravan
J.S. Bach - Orchestral Suite No.2 in B Minor
Irish Medley:-

Rose Of Tralee
Dublin Bay
A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow
Paddy McGinty's Goat
The Irish Washerwoman

Midnight In Moscow
The Masquerade Waltz
The Great Waldo Pepper March
Overture to William Tell

“Quartet”

The second CD is called “Quartet and features Nigel Ogden of Radio 2 fame playing on the Wurlitzer and Rutt theatre pipe organs, Steinway piano and Hammond C3 tonewheel organ. This is Nigel’s latest CD and it is costs £10 at the Organ Theatre or £12 by post in the UK (see details at start of the Mortier review).

The Wurlitzer is the 1933 built, 3-manual, 10-rank pipe organ originally from the Empire Cinema , Edmonton, North London. This wonderful instrument boasts a grand piano attachment along with a host of novelty effects.

Originally from the Regal, Higham Park, East London comes the Rutt theatre pipe organ, another gem from the 1930’s.This instrument has a striking illuminated glass surround together with a very atmospheric sound.

Having been rescued from one of Her Majesty’s prisons the Hammond C3 has a very familiar sound as these organs have been used extensively in cinemas, pubs, clubs, churches and pop groups. On the rally field or in museums the same characteristics can be heard on some of the post war DeCap dance organs as some of them used the Hammond tone wheel system to generate electronic sound rather than pipes.

Dating from 1915 is the Steinway ‘Duo-Art’ Upright Reproducing Piano that can be played from perforated rolls or manually as heard here when played by Nigel. The instrument while in very good condition has the charm of an old piano.

The playing of the instruments by Nigel Ogden is most pleasing as he is one of the country’s leading musicians with the ability to give enjoyable and relaxing performances. The recording too is most satisfactory being produced by Richard Golding and recorded by Paul Lee.

The Voice Of The Guns
Selection ~ 'Gigi'
You Are My Heart's Delight
Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes
Two From The Thirties
Girl From Corsica
Remembering Vera Lynn
The Genius Of George Gershwin
Memories Of Fred Astaire
Our Waltz
Songs of 1967
An Eric Coates Fantasia
A Foot-Tapping Finale!
The National Anthem

Tracks 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 12 and 13 played on the WurliTzer.
Tracks 4 and 8 played on the Piano.
Tracks 5, 6, 7 and 14 played on the Rutt.
Track 11 played on the Hammond.

46 Keyless Wilhelm Bruder Sohne

January 2008

Looking back at my archives I note that I am now in my 20^th year as Reviewer of new recordings of mechanical instruments for The Key Frame. In that time I have heard many tapes and CD’s and been in contact with many organ owners and am amazed at the dedication of the FOPS members who preserve, restore, maintain and travel their organs for our entertainment. As always I welcome new recordings for review at 10 Church Lane, Barnwood, Gloucester GL4 3HZ.

Volumes One & Two of a fine 46 keyless Wilhelm Bruder Sohne fair organ are now available although they were originally produced in 2003. Now owned by Allan Fitton the CD’s cost £7-50 each or both volumes for £12 inclusive of postage as an offer to Key Frame readers. Cheques should be made payable to A. Fitton of Coles Farm, Chequers Lane, Watford, WD25 0GL.

The 1920’s Black Forest built organ belonged to Jack Hutchinson until his death in December 2006. Prior to his passing, Jack had these CD’s produced by Graham Spencer of ‘Royal Music’, but unfortunately he was not able to sell them. They are rather special in showcasing the work of Louis Blache. He marked the music played on 44 of the 51 tracks. Totalling 89 tunes out of 110. The combined playing time of both volumes is 2 hours 16 minutes.

There are extensive notes from Jory Bennett; documenting what history is known of the instrument; details of the organ builders who actually produced these organs for Chiappa Ltd of London; short histories of Louis Blache and John Cocchi who marked the masters from which most of these perforated cardboard books were stencilled and cut; finally the restoration team led by Kevin Meayers and Paul Davies.

Listening to the CD’s is very nostalgic in several ways as the organ itself is around 80 years old and has been sympathetically restored and the music books reflect the tunes that would be heard in the years before the new wave of fair organs appeared in the 1970’s with a new generation of music markers and more modern tunes. Indeed it reminds me of my first trip to the Great Dorset Steam Fair in the early 1970’s when virtually all the organs played some of these pieces.

Volume One comprises a glorious selection of music : ‘Le Reve Passe’, Ain’t She Sweet’, ‘Happy Days and Lonely Nights’, ‘Carrera de Cabbelos’, ‘I wonder how I look when I’m Asleep’, ‘Miss Annabelle Lee’, ‘Pierot Waltz’, ‘Colonel Bogey’, ‘Rose Marie Selection’, ‘Maid of Brazil’, ‘We’ll all go riding on a Rainbow’, ‘Did you ever see a Dream Walking?’, ‘Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?’, ‘Meet the Navy’, ‘On a Steamer Coming Over’, ‘There’s a Good Time Coming’, ‘Little White Lies’, ‘Skaters Waltz’, ‘Maid of the Mountain Selection’, ‘American Patrol’, ‘Lili of Laguna’, ‘You’re the Cream in my Coffee’, ‘Who were you with Last Night’, ‘The Kings Horses’, ‘Grasshopper Dance’, ‘Flight of The Bumble Bee’, ‘Blaze Away’. This makes a grand total of 27 pieces and I note that there are a number that I can’t recall hearing on a review tape or CD. Particularly welcome is ‘There’s a Good Time Coming’ which dates from 1930 and was recorded on to 78 rpm records at that time by Jack Payne & The B.B.C. Dance Orchestra.

Volume Two contains a further 24 tracks as follows: ‘Veterans of Variety. No 1 Selection’, ‘ The Feather in her Tyrolean Hat’, ‘I Dream of San Marino’, ‘The Way You Look Tonight’, ‘A Fine Romance’, ‘It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie’, ‘Casablanca’, ‘Sioux City Sue’, ‘Five Minutes More’, ‘Go Home’, ‘Martial Moments. March Selection’, ‘Veterans of Variety. No 2 Selection’, ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’, ‘I Like Music’, ‘My Blue Heaven’, ‘Stein Song’, ‘Ben Hur. March’, ‘Dixie Land. Selection’, ‘Over the Waves’, ‘Get Out and Get Under’, ‘Don’t Bring Lulu’, ‘Let’s all Sing Like the Birdies Sing’, ‘Quickstep Mix’, ‘Poet & Peasant Overture’. As with the other CD there are a good number of less recorded pieces ‘Let’s all Sing Like the Birdies Sing’ being a fine example from 1933 which later became a classic with “The Ovaltiney’s” on radio.

These CD’s are a very good example of fairground music with books being produced as long ago as 1920. The recordings really give a feel of yesteryear with a typical smaller organ playing contemporary music that it would have performed during its time with a chair-o-plane ride, cake walk or small roundabout.

My visit to the Great Dorset Steam Fair 2009

Arriving at the South car park on the Thursday morning I faced quite a route march to the pay gate and another march to the main attractions. My exertions were soon rewarded with the sight and sounds of the Kelders family 118-key Verbeeck Concert Organ Victory that was playing as well as ever. The well spaced out seating was much appreciated and I managed to hear both Victory and the 73-key Verbeeck Locomotion playing simultaneously through the wonders of modern electronics. The repertoire of these instruments is most varied and the performances given are quite astonishing showing what a modern mechanical instrument can achieve.

Not wishing to wear myself out I this year I decided to sit in on a few shows in front of the larger organs. My first show was Dean’s Bioscope complete with the Dean 90-keyless Scenic Organ. Again the organ played very well with the Passion Dancers performing a number of pieces including selections from Oklahoma and A Cockney Ding-Dong. A very nice touch was that one of the dancers was 20 that day – so the organ played Happy Birthday to You and we all joined in with 2 verses.

Some of the larger organs though playing were partially covered to protect them from the heavy showers that damped things down several times during the day. The Anderton & Rowland Marenghi and Prestons 110 key Gavioli were among those partly obscured from view.

Graham Atkinson’s Oktoberfest 97-key Gavioli hosted another enjoyable show. The large stage was used by Julie Hatton’s dancing girls who performed to live and recorded music; a magician displayed his skills and there was a very good George Formby impersonator. The show ended with an Allen Digital Theatre Organ played magnificently by Kevin Grunill. The organ console looked, and the music sounded like a Wurlitzer coming through the powerful loudspeakers all of which was mounted in a modest trailer.

A visit to the hand-turned organ tent brought a nice surprise. At first nothing was happening then 3 organ grinders commenced turning their organs and after a few seconds all the instruments played the same tune very beautifully synchronised.

While listening to Alan Couldwell’s 110 key Marenghi The Rose I was impressed with the percussion and noticed a fine set of bells mounted high in the roof of the van. These were rather like carillon bells and were in addition to another set of bells that are more like hand bells in size.

A very interesting contrast in organ decorations was seen with Francis Stapleton’s 48-key Jan Roos Street Organ Astrid which is a much rebuilt Remond DuWyn. There is a bandmaster looking very much like Napoleon Bonaparte admired by young bathing beauties on either side – quite a contrast in dress!

Another show that I visited was Dr Haze’s Freak Show. The warm up acts outside the show was most entertaining with the various acts being introduced and performing just enough to entice the public inside to see more. There were no organs used with this show although a Showmans engine was in attendance. This show was a real step back in time showing how the fairground used to be in grandad’s day.

A dash for cover during a rainstorm brought me under the cover of the ex Benny Irvin 89 key Marenghi now owned by Graham Atkinson. This organ was playing extremely well and was in a position away from other organs so that it could be enjoyed at a distance.

My concluding organ is one that I think is perhaps one of the most delightful to look at and to listen to. This is Dawn of the Century the 52 key Jan Van Eijk owned by John and Kevin Selwood. The painting and animated figures are quite exquisite. This organ always attracts a good crowd.

I must commend all of the Organ owners for the wonderful turnout at the Great Dorset Steam Fair.

The number of organs may have been lower than last year, but the state of play and presentation was most appreciated.

My Top 12 Organs At Tarrant Hinton in 2008

My visit to the Great Dorset Steam Fair in 2006 was a washout as far as I am concerned – arriving very late on a very wet day. In contrast my 2008 visit could not have been better. The Friday morning drive from Gloucester was uneventful and I arrived before most organs were playing. The weather was ideal – cloudy and fairly bright and pretty warm too.

Rather than try to list all the organs present I have decided to give you a selection of instruments that I found exceptional on that day together with my thoughts. You may well think I have missed out a particularly good organ of which there were an enormous number: if so I must apologise and invite you to send up your views next year.

Len Crane’s 46 key Chiappa must be the most important organ as far as the show is concerned as it was the instrument that was first used to promote the Great Working of Steam Engines at Stourpaine Bushes over 40 years ago owned at that time by Ted Hine of Shaftesbury.

The appearance of the fair organ does not seem to have changed in recent years, but thankfully the organ has been rebuilt to give a very pleasing sound once again. I really enjoyed hear the organ play ‘The Dam Busters March’ as the Lancaster Bomber flew overhead.

The most nostalgic organ present was the Anderton & Rowland 92 Key Marenghi, still owned by the same amusement firm for over 100 years.

The magnificent sound of this Grand Organ never fails to move me and the state of play at present is really fantastic due to the dedicated band of enthusiasts who maintain it.

The best restoration job goes to the 89 key Marenghi of Graham Atkinson. The organ front is really splendid and the quality of music reproduction is most wonderful.

Ruth model 35 book organ is my choice of the best unrestored organ at the show and owned by Francis Stapleton. Originally a 72 key barrel organ, the organ has not been rebuilt since 1921. It plays extremely well and should be even better after the proposed rebuild.

By a wide margin my choice of the most decorated organ goes to the Saunders family with their 98 Key Gavioli complete with gardens, waterfalls and fountains, not to mention their wonderful stage acts. This organ has played very well throughout 2008.

My choice of organ with the most oomph goes to White’s 98 key Gavioli Scenic Organ which has recently been overhauled and now owned by Neil Corner. The deep bass from this instrument is quite unique as far as I am concerned and leaves a lasting impression on the listener.

Using modern Technology enabling 2 organs to play in unison in time to a video screen the Kelders family most definitely try to create a show for the 21^st Century. I was not able to enjoy the film show part of their presentation but most certainly appreciated the tremendous sound of their 118 Key Verbeeck Concert Organ ‘Victory’ which plays along with their 73 key Verbeeck ‘Locomotion’. I particularly liked the generous amount of seating arranged around the organ. If some organs do not seem to get a lot of listeners at the GDSF it could just be that tired showgoers need to rest their weary feet while they listen.

The organ that has improved the most over the last few years must be the 110 Key Gavioli owned by Graham Atkinson. Some years ago this instrument was attracting unkind remarks in the preservation world. Now it produces an extremely good full blooded fair organ sound particularly playing the “Bring Me Sunshine” selection.

For the instrument that has visually changed the most I choose the 115 Key Verbeeck Centenary Organ owned by Jim & Pat Searle. The organ front has dramatically changed recently with the addition of life size near naked male and female figures which are rather shock when first seen. The quality of play at the show was quite impeccable and as usual the organ was fairly close to refreshment vans so that seated diners could enjoy the sounds.

My choice for the most surprising organ is this fine little 65 keyless John Smith Design Midi Organ owned by Steve Elliott that just fits into the back of a rather small car. This method of transportation is definitely very practical.

For the most melodious organ I choose the 93 keyless Andreas Ruth owned by Margaret Cook. Wherever this fair organ goes it always attracts a good number of listeners who love listening to its soothing music always played to perfection.

My final congratulations must go to the F.O.P.S. members and committee who man the sales stand, restore and maintain organs, produce new music and of course take their instruments to many shows around the country especially to the Great Dorset Steam Fair.