Duncan Price's 83 Key Hooghuys "Dam Busters March" 1974

"Veterans of Variety No.2", "Swanee" and "The Changing of the Guard",books 1 & 2 arranged by Louis Blache for Chiappa Ltd.,book 3 arranged by Jan Verbeeck.

89 Key Marenghi Sleighbell 1980

Tom Albert's 98 Key Marenghi recorded 1968 after Victor Chiappa restored the organ and rearranged the brass trumpets to their current formation.

Wamba

With kind permission from Mr. Phillip Upchurch.

Wamba - Tom Albert's 98 Key Marenghi

Aquarius

Old tape recording from the 1970's of Bill Minshulls 46 key project known as "Limonaire Bitzen" and later known as "The Dark Peak Piper" 46 key Systeme Limonaire.
Unfortunately it is a very poor tape recording, it was taken in the back of the organ truck, where the accompaniment pipes tend to be quite prominent. There is little bass in the recording and background noise from the blower can be heard.
But you can at least appreciate Bill Minshulls great achievement in his desire to own his own fairground organ.
The organ is now with us and undergoing complete stage by stage overhaul.


46 key Minshull / Limonaire - Krazno Selo

Old tape recording from the 1970's of Bill Minshulls 46 key project known as "Limonaire Bitzen" and later known as "The Dark Peak Piper" 46 key Systeme Limonaire.
Unfortunately it is a very poor tape recording, it was taken in the back of the organ truck, where the accompaniment pipes tend to be quite prominent. There is little bass in the recording and background noise from the blower can be heard.
But you can at least appreciate Bill Minshulls great achievement in his desire to own his own fairground organ.
The organ is now with us and undergoing complete stage by stage overhaul.

46 key Minshull / Limonaire - On The Mississipi

46 Key Minshull / Limonaire - Veterans of Variety No.1

Alf Whitelegg's 89 Key Marenghi / Gavioli Organ playing "The Old Pianna Rag". This was recorded at Bideford Quay Fair in about 1972 when I was driving the machine and playing the organ. The recorder was on top of the organ case so not very good quality.

The Old Pianna Rag - A Whitelegg 89 Key Marenghi Galloper Organ about 1972

Alf Whitelegg's 89 Key Marenghi / Gavioli Organ playing "Ferry Boat Inn". This was recorded at Bideford Quay Fair in about 1972 when I was driving the machine and playing the organ. The recorder was on top of the organ case so not very good quality

Ferry Boat Inn - A Whitelegg Galloper Organ At Bideford Quay About 1972

Peter Mackett. Track 1 "They're Wearing them Higher in Hawaii" Arranged by Charles Chiappa.
David Ward. Second Track is "Get Out & Get Under." 
She sounds great there, that organ has so much character, she's a real belter!
Recorded outside Bradford Town Hall April 1983.

Frank Lythgoe's  98 Key Marenghi at Bradford for FOPS AGM 1983

The travelling fun-fair is transient, almost intangible, here today, gone tomorrow.  However, even in these "more enlightened" days, music is the soul of the fair.  These recordings will take you back to a less priveliged time, when the pace of life was slower and the arrival of the showpeople was a big event, and the rides were hauled by steam and featured mammoth mechanical organs, the best of which, according to experts, were built in Paris at the turn of the 20th Century.  Enjoy! Remember the amazing surprise of my appearance; think of me when I have gone away.

Aquarius

89VeeBee

Related tracks