The World's Largest Carousel (which, by the way, is populated with mostly new figures) has a synthesized computer sound system providing the music, with some live percussion (tympani, train bell, etc) also operated by the computer. There used to be a Gebruder Bruder organ there, but it never played until last year, when it was restored and moved to a different building.
The Gebruder Bruder did actually play parts of the carousel music there at one time (intermittently in the 1980s and 1990s but no longer could by 2001/2002). Yes, the music was probably always at least partially synthesized, though the heavily modified organ itself carried parts of the tunes in house along with the piped in audio tracks. Apparently, the Bruder organ actions were routed through a electrical decoder (what they call a "black box") so the audio track data could operate the organ actions (in the manner of how the data did and presently operates the live percussion).
It takes a good restorer who knows what they are doing and can make quick repairs to keep things up until the next scheduled overhaul. Fortunately, since most of the "fantasy music machines" at HOTR are fakes which mime along with a synthesizer, many of these can get by with very little maintenance since a few pneumatic devices not working won't hamper the sound in the least :D The Mikado, however, actually plays. Only it's sitar and giant sheng are non-functional props.
I now have Treasures checked out and can look at the scale. It is 92-keyless and uses the same paper width and hole spacing as Coinola O-rolls (and probably uses an O-roll frame), but the note layout is based on the 84-key Mortier scale with 8 bass, etc. There are 12 pipe registers, including for bass ranks not normally on register, due to the unusual new windchest construction. There is also a register for the xylophone and one for the tremolo, as well as 14 holes for percussion effects.
Most of the music machines were out of tune when I visited the House on the Rock last week. I don't think the Mikado had that exact problem, though... The off-key-ness gives the place a nice creepy atmosphere though.
It used or uses a paper roll scale specially devised for the instrument and listed in the back of the book "Treasures of Mechanical Music" (which can be found at many libraries). It's been a while since I checked out the book, but I believe there are about 102 functions in the roll... next time I check it out I'll copy down the scale. The original Mortier was an 84-key book player, I believe.
Hmmmm, well listening to it it sounds like there is a cipher in one of the organ chests (a cipher is where a note is "stuck on" and plays continuously). Plus it is a bit out of tune anyway. Considering how little original Mortier is in this I am surprised there aren't more malfunctions.
Alright, I took another listen. Though I am impressed as usual with the high quality of the Mortier pipework, I definitely hear the ciphers, which, added to the dissonances written in the arrangement of "Harem Bells", make it rather hard to listen to. I visited the House in August, after you, and it played this piece fine so I think they must have fixed it by then.
The World's Largest Carousel (which, by the way, is populated with mostly new figures) has a synthesized computer sound system providing the music, with some live percussion (tympani, train bell, etc) also operated by the computer. There used to be a Gebruder Bruder organ there, but it never played until last year, when it was restored and moved to a different building.
The Gebruder Bruder did actually play parts of the carousel music there at one time (intermittently in the 1980s and 1990s but no longer could by 2001/2002). Yes, the music was probably always at least partially synthesized, though the heavily modified organ itself carried parts of the tunes in house along with the piped in audio tracks. Apparently, the Bruder organ actions were routed through a electrical decoder (what they call a "black box") so the audio track data could operate the organ actions (in the manner of how the data did and presently operates the live percussion).
That last chord is DA BOMB, literally! CRANK DAT!!!!!
FUCK YEAH!!!!
I can say this since I actually know what these things are, and I have a sense of humor: That ending "chord" is spectacular!
Da BOMB!!!
It takes a good restorer who knows what they are doing and can make quick repairs to keep things up until the next scheduled overhaul.
Fortunately, since most of the "fantasy music machines" at HOTR are fakes which mime along with a synthesizer, many of these can get by with very little maintenance since a few pneumatic devices not working won't hamper the sound in the least :D
The Mikado, however, actually plays. Only it's sitar and giant sheng are non-functional props.
Great Pianists you probably don’t even go on this account anymore. But I was wondering if you knew what song this was.
@@Adam-TheLiftedKing Harem Bells.
I now have Treasures checked out and can look at the scale. It is 92-keyless and uses the same paper width and hole spacing as Coinola O-rolls (and probably uses an O-roll frame), but the note layout is based on the 84-key Mortier scale with 8 bass, etc. There are 12 pipe registers, including for bass ranks not normally on register, due to the unusual new windchest construction. There is also a register for the xylophone and one for the tremolo, as well as 14 holes for percussion effects.
Most of the music machines were out of tune when I visited the House on the Rock last week. I don't think the Mikado had that exact problem, though...
The off-key-ness gives the place a nice creepy atmosphere though.
It almost hurts to hear it like this. :( The Mikado is by far my favorite of all the music machinesand especially this tune.
some of the drum beaters are to slow and the small drum beaters are flimsy
It used or uses a paper roll scale specially devised for the instrument and listed in the back of the book "Treasures of Mechanical Music" (which can be found at many libraries). It's been a while since I checked out the book, but I believe there are about 102 functions in the roll... next time I check it out I'll copy down the scale. The original Mortier was an 84-key book player, I believe.
Sounds like the machine was not getting enough air pressure and the machine was badly out of tune
Hmmmm, well listening to it it sounds like there is a cipher in one of the organ chests (a cipher is where a note is "stuck on" and plays continuously). Plus it is a bit out of tune anyway. Considering how little original Mortier is in this I am surprised there aren't more malfunctions.
Does anyone know what song this is playing?
Harem bells
I just went there today! that was AMAIZING!!!!
Alright, I took another listen. Though I am impressed as usual with the high quality of the Mortier pipework, I definitely hear the ciphers, which, added to the dissonances written in the arrangement of "Harem Bells", make it rather hard to listen to. I visited the House in August, after you, and it played this piece fine so I think they must have fixed it by then.