A Little something for Halloween !!!!

Everyone always associates this timely classic Bach piece for Organ with haunted castles, and scary movies. Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, and as played by Virgil Fox, the late, great organist of our times. Play this in the dark, if you dare...

My New Site Is up and Running !!!!!

 You can visit my site at http://www.lansdalepianotuning.net

I now accept credit cards. My store is open, and if you experience any problem purchasing any product, please call me at:  (215) 353-0570 and I will assist you personally.

Feel free to leave comments, likes, dislikes, ideas or anything you would like me to be aware of.

To return to my website, use the return arrow above.

The Sounding Board is now integrated with my new Web page:

http://lansdalepianotuning.net

Please look it over and let me know what you like or dislike. I have tried to make navigation very easy, and accessible. If you have any ideas, suggestions or comments, please feel free to post them here. You can also contact me from the site or via e-mail here. In honor of the introduction of my new webpage, my featured video this month is in the form of a tribute to my late friend and mentor, Mr. Harvey N. Roehl, whose Vestal Press became a valuable source of both historical and practical information on mechanical musical instruments. The rag you will hear is dedicated to the memory of this gentleman and scholar.   

 THE VESTAL PRESS RAG.

The Hupfeld Phonoliszt Violina

When I was 15, my friend, Ed Freyer had acquired a Mills Novelty Company double Violano Virtuoso. It was built around 1914 and was unique as a player in that it was solenoid operated and not a pneumatic player, totally electric. Since A.C. current was not in general use at that time, the unit had D.C. motors and needed an internal voltage regulator and converter. That machine operated very well and I was impressed with it's sound. The sound board was hinged like a door, and it opened as such to allow tuning of the piano. Also unique, the bass strings ( the longest and thickest strings in a piano ) were in the center of the sound board, with the mid range strings being to the left side and the treble strings being to the right side. This gave the sound board layout an archway look instead of the normal left to right inclined look of all other pianos. It also used 4 synchronous motors with rosin wheels attached to act as "bows" for each violin. There were no tuning pegs to tune the 4 strings on each violin. The strings were "tuned" by a permanent hanging weight on each string. According to Mills, this was supposed to eliminate the need to tune the violins. 

Today, I am comparing the European competitor to Mills with their version consisting of 3 ONE string violins, a REPRODUCING player piano, string tremelo and a single rotating wheel that played the violins as they were needed, by pneumatic fingers and being individually pushed out to the rotating bow. This machine was built in 1901. Personally, I like the Hupfeld over the Mills. The 2nd video is a FULLY restored Mills Double Violin playing the Tennessee Waltz. Also of note, the music roll of the Hupfeld plays from bottom to top, totally opposite of it's American counterparts. These are both two very unique inventions. When the Hupfeld was built, we had no AC electric, airplanes or automobiles.

Let me know which is your favorite. Drop me an e-mail at:

                     classic.musical.instrument@gmail.com

I will post the results here in a future posting. Enjoy some great sounding music on two awesome machines.

And NOW, from the files of " THEY SAID IT COULDN'T BE DONE..." here is the world's LARGEST & LONGEST grand piano, The Alexander. This piano was built by 16 year old Adrian Mann who had NO training in building pianos. He taught himself how to tune a piano when he was 12 years old. This video has this exceptional young man telling the story behind his massive accomplishment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7czXgB7BUY&feature=share&list=PL2FFE2E4BFE1181D5&index=58

Here is Adrian, playing his piano.

Many years ago, when the former WFLN Radio station was operating, they played Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever, and called it a Monster Piano Ensemble. I have not been able to find that on Youtube, but in my search, I did come across the Irish Internationale Piano Competitions, where they have the eight finalists play on eight concert grand pianos, several classical orchestral arrangements. I picked THE WILLIAM TELL OVERTURE, because most people from my era associate the last movement with the popular radio and television series, The Lone Ranger. Last month you heard four outstanding organists play William Tell, here is eight equally outstanding pianists playing the full orchestrated version of Rossini's William Tell Overature.  

It's been a long, cold winter. We have had more snow this year since about 15 years ago. Well, time to thaw things out. I have some new videos I think you will like. These two (2) are The Philadelphia Organ Quartet. Most people will recognize this Scott Joplin favorite, The Entertainer.

The second video is a stunning rendition of The William Tell Overture, by Rossini. By the way, these are not pipe organs, all 4 are Allen Digital Quantum models. All electronic. Fantastic sound !!!!

 

A favorite of mine, is Dave Wickerham, a really accomplished theatre organist. This is another Scott Joplin Rag, that is not often performed. Dave is playing the Allen Theatre Organ, an all digital model LL-324Q-SP. The Chrysanthemum Rag.