Machinery Making Modern Music
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Friday and Saturday of this week saw the Mid-West Band Organ Rally at the Lake County History Center. This is the first time I have visited the center since its controversial move from Kirtland Hills. It was a very nice day to do a quick tour between light rain falls.
These mechanical music machines are incredible devices that run the gamut between fully computer controlled to hand cranked with Jacquard Loom-like control cards. The craftsmanship is simply incredible.
As for the music made, well, it was mostly predictable. And then it wasn’t. Basic patriotic fare was the standard but some popular old people from Liverpool hits were mixed in. The most odd choice: Funkytown. Odd, yes, but the orchestration was very well thought out. It seemed that while there were standard items on show here, most were very custom instruments. As such their programming must be customized for the instruments. Brilliant stuff.
We took a bit of time to walk through the house. I need to go back and spend more time and get better shots. They have a gorgeous Edison Dictaphone there that took my breath away. Actually, I didn’t even notice it looking through the room that housed it. It was only on my exit that I saw it in the corner. I have never been that close to one. I need to spend a half-hour in study.
