Organ Extravaganza 2024 - A vist by david Soulsby
On 21st July I took the opportunity to visit the Weald and Downland Living Museum at Singleton, West Sussex to take in the so-called Organ Extravaganza. While it fell somewhat short of such a spectacular billing, it was a lovely day and the museum and its display of historic buildings are always worth the entrance money alone (Photo 1).
Photo 1. Weald & Downland Living Museum, Singleton, West Sussex
There was one large Fairground Organ, being put through its paces, the sound from which served to attract the groups of inquisitive visitors to this area of the show, a Marenghi of course (Photo 2). I was well aware of their power having admired the 89 key “Sleighbell” Marenghi during my recent outing to the Amersham Fair Organ Museum ( see MMW 32).
Photo 2. Merenghi Fairground Organ
I wandered along the line of barrel organs, each spaced at a suffient distance apart to prevent interference with one another. At this point it is worth pointing out a disclaimer, as I am no expert on any of the instruments that I encountered there, the “facts” about them are merely those told to me by the owners, operators or even just the person standing close to them.
Photo 3. Raffin 25th Anniversary Organ
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A Raffin organ, (Photo 3), was the first that I stopped at to listen to a mashup of ABBA melodies.
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Raffin Organ Makers from Uberlingen, have been making barrel organs and music rolls since 1960. The instrument being played was one of a limited collection from 1985 to mark the 25th anniversary.of their production.
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The 20 note busker organ (Photo 4), which was made by Axel Stuber in Berlin was next in line. It is comprised of ten melody pipes on show and ten base pipes hidden inside. The handle operates both the transport for the paper roll and the bellows which provides the air to the pipes
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Photo 4. Stuber 20 note Busker Organ
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Photo 5. 20 note Daleike converted to MIDI
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Next up was a 20 note Daleike built in Germany around 1986 which had been brought in by Chris Doe from Chelmsford. It was restored in 1986 by the addition of a midi system. You still need to turn the handle to force the wind through the pipes but the controls are via Bluetooth on Chris’ mobile phone.
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A second Fairground organ on display was the 52 keyless Alfred Bruder, built around 1922 in Waldkirch in the Black Forest, Germany.It is believed to be one of only three to be built to have this this style and figure fitted which was made to fit in a roundabout. It was originally built as a book playing organ but was altered to play on a paper roll system by Voigt of Frankfurt. It has had several owners one of whom used it as a Children’s ride. In 1979 it was converted back to book playing by a Mr Henk Veeningen. It came to the UK in 2015 and is now owned by Brian Hunt here in West Sussex.
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Photo 6. A 52 keyless Alfred Bruder organ
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Alongside this one was an even more impressive piece that Brian was also exhibiting (Photo 7).He told me that it is a 70 Dutch Concert Organ built by Jac Minning from Rotterdam in the early 60's, it was constructed using pipes from other scrapped organs which go back to 1905. It has Gavioli Violins and Trombones, 4 ranks of Bourdon pipes which play on melody and counter melody and a very nice register switched celeste. Mortier Cello pipes which can orchestrate their own pieces depending on which book is played. There are 18 Saxophones and 18 Baritones and he’s lost count of Accompaniment pipes of which there are many. It has the usual percussion bass and snare drums, separate cymbal and wood block, 32 bass pipes including the Trombones. In all it comprises 330 speaking pipes with everything working through 12 registers so as he said, it is quite a comprehensive piece of kit.
Photo 8. Carved Percussion figures
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Photo 7. 70 Dutch Concert Organ Pluto
He was told that Jac Minning built several high-quality organs and named some after the planets, this one is Pluto, hence the painting of the Disney character.and he knew of 3 others:- Mercurius, The Great Blue and Jupiter.
Unfortunately he didn’t have any information on the engraved figures (Photo 8), other than they are carved wooden ones and came from another unknown organ. The colour scheme had been changed over the years too, it had been green some years back. The horses heads were never on the side wings but the painting of the girl and dog on the top is original, the disney dog is not original, it had a picture of a lake with a swan and a windmill. Brian says he is thinking of having this re-done as he’s not a fan, although it's ideal for the children to relate to through the Disney cartoon
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There were several other barrel organs dotted around the site and their enthusiastic owners were more than willing to show them off (Photos 9,10,11)
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Photo's 9, 10 & 11.
Musical Boxes and Automata of MBSGB
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In the Building Crafts Gallery the MBSGB had set out a selection of musical boxes and automata which attracted considerable interest. (Photo 12)
All in all an interesting couple of hours in the heart of West Sussex
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Photos 12. Musical box and automata on display
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